AccScience Publishing / TD / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/td.7171
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Development and validation of a comprehensive tumor treating fields system for glioblastoma therapy: From prototype design to preclinical evaluation

Xindong Wang1,2* Han Lv3 Zhiyong Wang1* Xian Wang1*
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1 Flexible Bioelectronics Division, Institute of Flexible Electronics Technology of THU, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
2 Medical-Industrial Integration Research Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
3 Second Department of Sythesis Stomatology, School of Stomatology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Tumor Discovery, 7171 https://doi.org/10.36922/td.7171
Submitted: 10 December 2024 | Revised: 14 February 2025 | Accepted: 18 February 2025 | Published: 3 March 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and lethal brain tumor with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Standard therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy provide modest survival benefits but are often ineffective against tumor recurrence. Tumor treating fields (TTF) therapy has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment modality that uses alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division and inhibit tumor growth. However, the optimization and practical implementation of TTF systems remain challenging due to limitations in field penetration, electrode design, and treatment efficacy. In this study, we designed and developed a novel TTF prototype system to enhance electric field transmission and optimize therapeutic efficiency. The system incorporates high-dielectric ceramic electrodes made of barium titanate zirconate, allowing for superior field penetration. We evaluated the system through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, GBM cells exposed to the TTF system exhibited significant reductions in proliferation, with higher field intensities yielding greater inhibition. In vivo, using a rat GBM model, we observed marked tumor suppression, as validated by bioluminescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging. Survival analysis further demonstrated prolonged lifespan in TTF-treated rats compared to controls. Our findings highlight the potential of this novel TTF system to improve GBM treatment outcomes. This study provides a comprehensive framework for future advancements in TTF therapy, paving the way for clinical translation and further integration with conventional and emerging cancer therapies.

Keywords
Glioblastoma multiforme
Tumor therapy
Tumor treating fields
Electric field therapy
System design
Funding
This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (52302118), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Sun Yat-sen University (24qnpy312), and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. LQ23B050006.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Tumor Discovery, Electronic ISSN: 2810-9775 Print ISSN: 3060-8597, Published by AccScience Publishing