Research Article
Nirosha J. Murugan, Lukasz M.
Abstract
Strategic whole body application of physiologically patterned, weak magnetic fields has been evolving as a third option to treat cancer. Unlike chemical therapies and ionizing radiation physiologically-patterned magnetic fields diminish the growth of only malignant cells but not normal cells. In addition these fields provide some analgesic relief. To discern if competing magnetic fields might abolish the beneficial effects mouse melanoma cells in culture were exposed for 1 hour per day for 5 days to decelerating frequency modulated patterned magnetic fields that are well known for their growth suppressive effects mediated by T-Type calcium channels. Typical suppression rates were obtained. Exposure to a second pattern that evokes LTP (long term potentiation) in hippocampal slices and is the primary physical correlate of memory, produced minimal effects. However when the effective daily frequency-modulated hourly exposures were preceded by only 30 min of LTP patterned magnetic fields the growth suppression effects were completely abolished. These results indicate certain patterned fields cancel the beneficial effects and that the processes that underlie proliferation of malignant cells and memory consolidation in nervous tissue may share characteristics.