Science & Technology, Singapore (Commonwealth Union) – Scientists that were, led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech), have introduced a novel method to stimulate muscles using brief and mild pulsed electromagnetic field exposure. This technique triggers the production and release of proteins with anticancer properties. These soluble chemical molecules can then circulate through the bloodstream, providing system-wide protection against cancer.
While exercise is known to reduce the risk of developing cancers such as breast, prostate, and colon cancers, and improve survival rates in cancer patients, many patients are unable to exercise due to the debilitating effects of cancer progression and treatment-related side effects. This new approach offers a potential alternative for those who cannot benefit from the anticancer effects of exercise.
“The BICEPS lab’s method of stimulating muscle cells uses a form of magnetic therapy that exhibits key commonalities with exercise. This latest study demonstrated that our non-invasive method of muscle stimulation mobilises a similar anticancer defence as exercise, bringing us a step closer towards the development of drug-free therapeutics and the discovery of cancer-related biomarkers to help patients with cancer benefit from exercise-stimulated anticancer agents while not being able to exercise,” explained Associate Professor Franco-Obregón.
The NUS research team published details of their new drug-free and non-invasive approach in Cells in March this year.
In a prior study, Associate Professor Franco-Obregón and his team demonstrated that exposing isolated muscle cells to low-energy magnetic fields for just 10 minutes could enhance muscle development by stimulating the release of regenerative and rejuvenating proteins. These muscle factors are also known to protect against common diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
In their new study, the team investigated whether the same magnetic stimulation protocol could promote the production and release of anticancer agents from intact muscles in preclinical models, aiming to mark and validate these anticancer factors.
First, the NUS team tested their hypothesis at the cellular level. They discovered that muscle cells subjected to magnetic therapy could inhibit the growth, invasion, and migration of breast cancer cells—key characteristics of cancer progression. Additionally, magnetically-stimulated muscle cells were able to shrink micro-tumors and reduce their production of blood vessels.
Following the validation of their tissue culture findings, the researchers carried out preclinical studies. They discovered that a 10-minute exposure to magnetic therapy once a week for eight weeks was enough to induce similar anticancer effects as exercising twice a week for 20 minutes per session for eight weeks. These effects included inhibiting the growth, invasion, and migration of breast cancer cells.
The researchers also found that a previously suspected tumor suppressor, HTRA1, was secreted from muscle cells exposed to 10 minutes of magnetic fields per week, similar to exercising for 20 minutes twice a week. Removing HTRA1 secreted by the muscle cells eliminated its anticancer potency, while applying synthetic HTRA1 to cancer cells recreated the anticancer effect of magnetic field exposure and exercise. This indicates that HTRA1 is necessary and sufficient to explain the anticancer effect of muscle.
The researchers also noted that, HTRA1 is crucial for muscle development and the accumulation of muscle’s anticancer protein arsenal, which makes our muscle the most potent natural defense against cancer. The researchers demonstrated that early exposure of isolated muscle cells (in tissue culture) to HTRA1 stimulated their development and increased their anticancer potency. In summary, HTRA1 can adapt muscle cells outside the body to become more effective anticancer factor secretors even without magnetic field stimulation, essentially mimicking exercise adaptations in the laboratory that are typically observed in the body.
“HTRA1 released during exercise may cause muscles to adapt to be capable of secreting HTRA1 even at rest. This helps to explain why exercise makes us more resistant to cancer. To extend the analogy even further, if muscle is our anticancer pharmacy, magnetic field therapy may be an inexpensive, yet effective, prescription,” explained Associate Professor Franco-Obregón.
Building upon the encouraging outcomes produced by this preclinical research, the NUS team is commencing clinical trials to evaluate the anticancer capabilities of muscle-targeted magnetic therapy in humans, and to validate the anticancer effects of HTRA1 in humans with breast and other cancers.
The team have also pointed out their eagerness to conduct additional studies to discover other anticancer biomarkers produced and released by muscle cells. They pointed out that these biomarkers could potentially serve as targets for developing new drugs and therapies to treat cancer.
