Low dose, alternating electric current inhibits growth of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND A number of minimally invasive technologies exist for the treatment of prostate cancer (CaP), each with their associated morbidities. We sought to test the efficacy of low dose alternating electric current (LDAEC) to inhibit CaP growth in a preclinical setting and determine its effect on normal tissue. METHODS In the first study, two power settings, 15 or 25 mA of current, and two treatment times, 15 or 60 min, were evaluated in C4-2B CaP xenografts. In the second study, power was regulated to maintain an intra-tumoral temperature of ≤45°C in C4-2B and LuCaP 35 tumors. In both studies, tumor volume, serum PSA levels, survival and histology were analyzed. In a third study, LDAEC was applied to mice hamstrings with evaluation of gait and histology. RESULTS The most effective tumor volume reduction in the first study was seen with tumors treated with 25 mA for 15 min (62 ± 9.4% decrease, P = 0.001). Longer treatment time did not enhance treatment effect. Using 45°C to govern delivery of LDAEC resulted in a near 100% reduction in tumor volume in 8/10 mice with C4-2B tumors (P