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HOUSTON METHODIST ACADEMIC INSTITUTE
Can Devices Provide A
New Treatment Option for Glioblastoma? Experts at the Houston Methodist Kenneth R. Peak Brain & Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center are developing new glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment options, including an innovative technology that provides anticancer therapy through a wearable device.
David S. Baskin, MD
Santosh Helekar, MD, PhD
GBM is the most common
On a cellular level, they demonstrated that when OMFs are
and aggressive form
applied in a defined pattern at a certain range of frequencies,
of brain cancer. After
they disrupt electron flows in the mitochondrial electron
40 years of research,
transport chain that drives cellular fuel production. This
median survival with
disruption leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species,
aggressive treatment
triggering a cascade of cellular events that leads to cancer
has only improved from 9 to 15 months and the quality
cell apoptosis. Compared with normal cells of the same tissue
of life during this time is often poor.
type, cancer cells have critically high levels of reactive oxygen species at baseline that are poised to trigger apoptosis if
A team of researchers has developed a new method of
further increased.
generating an oscillating magnetic field (OMF) that eradicates cancer cells via a wearable device. These studies were made
With this information, the investigators further optimized the
possible by the prior invention of a wearable miniaturized
stimulus parameters of OMF stimulation and confirmed safety
multifocal transcranial magnetic stimulator by Santosh
and efficacy in a humanized preclinical model of GBM. They
Helekar, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurosurgery, and
then modified the Helekar-Voss Transcranial Permanent
Henning Voss, associate professor of physics in radiology at
Magnet Stimulator device to construct a wearable prototype
Weill Cornell Medical College. The device uses microstimulators,
for humans called an Oncomagnetic device along with the
called oncoscillators, that rotate strong neodymium permanent
associated hardware, software and mobile applications.
magnets-devised patterns. Helekar and his colleagues have produced selective anticancer effects in patient-derived GBM and breast cancer cells in culture without damaging cultured normal cells.
“
We believe that our current investigations may help to establish Oncomagnetics as a GBM treatment that does not have the limitations of chemotherapeutic agents. Given that various cancerous cell types are susceptible to apoptosis by OMF-induced accentuation of reactive oxygen species, we hope to modulate our nascent OMF treatment to target other cancers.
”
– D avid S. Baskin, MD Kenneth R. Peak Presidential Distinguished Chair & Program Director, Neurosurgery Residency, Department of Neurosurgery Professor, Neurosurgery Houston Methodist
