Researchers have discovered that tumor-treating fields (TTFs) enhance the cytotoxic degranulation of natural killer (NK) cells, aiding in the elimination of malignant cells in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. The study suggests that electric currents could boost NK cell cytotoxicity, supporting the potential for combining TTFs with NK cell-based immunotherapies to improve treatment responses in patients.
GBM is an aggressive and incurable brain tumor originating from glial cells in the brain or spinal cord, which rapidly spreads to surrounding healthy tissues. Despite being relatively common, GBM patients have poor survival rates, with only 25% surviving more than one year. Standard treatment typically includes surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy to slow disease progression, but patients often relapse, necessitating advanced treatment approaches.
Previous studies have shown that the GBM tumor micro-environment is immunosuppressive towards NK cells, which are naturally cytotoxic to various target cells, including tumor cells. This finding has led to the development of NK cell-based immunotherapy as an advanced therapeutic option for GBM patients.
TTF therapy, approved by the FDA in 2011, involves a portable device with small transducers adhered to a shaved head, emitting low- to intermediate-intensity electric fields through the skin to disrupt cancer cell division. The device is connected to a small battery pack, allowing patients to receive treatment while continuing daily activities.
Researchers from the UK and Ireland discovered that TTFs enhance the cytotoxic capabilities of NK cells, suggesting a potential combined treatment approach with TTF and NK cell-based immunotherapy. Using cell isolation and culture, degranulation assays, cell staining, and an electrical field setup, the researchers assessed the impact of TTFs on NK cell viability and functions in peripheral blood samples. They found that exposure to TTFs at a frequency of 200 kHz significantly enhanced NK cell degranulation, improving their ability to destroy cancer cells. Importantly, TTFs did not compromise NK cell viability or cytokine production. These findings suggest that using TTF to enhance NK cells could represent a promising strategy for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy treatments in GBM.
Read More: Click Here
