Cancer Cells
Cancer cells divide and multiply rapidly in the brain. These cancer
cells carry special types of electrically charged elements that play a role
during the cell division process. Other healthy cells in the brain
multiply at a much slower rate, if at all, and thus rarely include the same
electric properties as the dividing cancer cells.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)
The NovoTTF-100A device used in this trial delivers very low intensity, alternating
electric fields to the tumor site through the scalp. These fields
are known as Tumor Treating Fields or TTFields. Due to the unique
shape of cancer cells when they are multiplying, TTFields cause the building
blocks of these cells to pile up in such a way that the cells physically
break apart. In addition, cancer cells also contain miniature building
blocks that move essential parts of the cells from place to place during
division. TTFields cause these building blocks to fall apart since
they have a special type of electric charge. As a result of
these two effects, preliminary study data indicate that cancer tumor growth
is slowed and may even reverse after continuous exposure to TTFields. Preliminary
data also indicate that the TTFields affect the healthy brain cells much
less than cancer cells since healthy brain cells multiply at a much slower
rate, if at all.
TTFields Applied to Cancer Cells
Link to a video showing the treatment mechanism of action
Additional Information
For additional scientific information please see
http://www.pnas.org [PNAS Jun 07]
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/64/9/3288 [Cancer Research May 04]
http://www.pubmed.gov [Onkologie July 08]
http://www.biomedcentral.com [Medical Physics Jan 09]
Inventor and Company
The NovoTTF-100A device was invented by Professor Yoram Palti, MD, Ph.D. Professor
Palti is a Professor Emeritus at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology,
the leading Israeli biomedical research institution.
CAUTION. Investigational Device. Limited by U.S. law to INVESTIGATION USE ONLY.