title: Growth inhibition of malignant melanoma by intermediate frequency alternating electric fields, and the underlying mechanisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the antitumour effects of intermediate frequency alternating electric fields (IF-AEF) in a murine melanoma cell line (B16F10) and a mouse tumour model.
  
  
  METHODS
  IF-AEF was applied at 100 kHz. Proliferation of B16F10 cells in vitro was assessed  by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. IF-AEF was applied in vivo to mice bearing B16F10 tumours. Terminal deoxy nucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay for apoptosis, and immunohistochemical detection of CD34 and vascular  endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IF-AEF inhibited the proliferation of B16F10 cells in an electrical intensity and time-dependent manner. Treatment with IF-AEF for 7 days significantly inhibited the growth of tumours compared with untreated controls. IF-AEF induced  apoptosis in vivo and reduced CD34-positive cell numbers; CD34 is a special marker of microvessel density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IF-AEF reduced microvessel density related to tumour growth and may serve as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004560:Electricity; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A