Effects induced by a 50 Hz electromagnetic field and doxorubicin on Walker-256 carcinosarcoma growth and hepatic redox state in rats.

Abstract

We compare the effects of an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) on tumor growth and the hepatic redox state in Walker-256 carcinosarcoma-bearing rats. Animals were divided into five groups with one control (no tumor) and four tumor-bearing groups: no treatment, DOX, DOX combined with EMF and EMF. While DOX and DOX + EMF provided greater inhibition of tumor growth, treatment with EMF alone resulted in some level of antitumor effect ( < .05). Superoxide dismutase, catalase activity and glutathione content were significantly decreased in the liver of tumor-bearing animals as compared with the control group ( < .05). The decreases in antioxidant defenses accompanied histological findings of suspected liver damage. However, hepatic levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were three times lower in EMF and DOX + EMF groups than in no treatment and DOX ( < .05). EMF and DOX + EMF showed significantly lower activity of serum ALT than DOX alone ( < .05). These results indicate that EMF treatment can inhibit tumor growth, causing less pronounced oxidative stress damage to the liver. Therefore, EMF can be used as a therapeutic strategy to influence the hepatic redox state and combat cancer with reduced side-effects.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In tumor-bearing rats, doxorubicin (DOX) and DOX+EMF produced greater inhibition of tumor growth, while EMF alone also showed an antitumor effect (p<.05). Tumor-bearing animals had decreased hepatic antioxidant defenses versus controls, with suspected liver damage histology; however, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were about three times lower in the EMF and DOX+EMF groups than in no-treatment and DOX groups, and serum ALT activity was lower in EMF and DOX+EMF than in DOX alone (p<.05).

Outcomes measured

• Tumor growth inhibition
• Hepatic antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione)
• Hepatic lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances)
• Serum ALT activity
• Histological findings of suspected liver damage

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• EMF exposure parameters beyond frequency (e.g., field strength, duration) not reported in abstract
• Animal model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Study involves 50 Hz (ELF) electromagnetic field exposure, though not explicitly occupational.

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Walker-256 carcinosarcoma-bearing rats (and a non-tumor control group)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Tumor growth inhibition",
        "Hepatic antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione)",
        "Hepatic lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances)",
        "Serum ALT activity",
        "Histological findings of suspected liver damage"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In tumor-bearing rats, doxorubicin (DOX) and DOX+EMF produced greater inhibition of tumor growth, while EMF alone also showed an antitumor effect (p<.05). Tumor-bearing animals had decreased hepatic antioxidant defenses versus controls, with suspected liver damage histology; however, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were about three times lower in the EMF and DOX+EMF groups than in no-treatment and DOX groups, and serum ALT activity was lower in EMF and DOX+EMF than in DOX alone (p<.05).",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "EMF exposure parameters beyond frequency (e.g., field strength, duration) not reported in abstract",
        "Animal model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low-frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "doxorubicin",
        "Walker-256",
        "carcinosarcoma",
        "rats",
        "tumor growth",
        "hepatic redox state",
        "oxidative stress",
        "ALT",
        "lipid peroxidation"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Study involves 50 Hz (ELF) electromagnetic field exposure, though not explicitly occupational."
        }
    ]
}

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