Abstract brain with glowing electric fields, symbolizing innovative cancer treatment.

Brain Cancer Breakthroughs: Electric Fields and Personalized Medicine

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the Latest Advancements in Glioblastoma Treatment and the Potential of Electric Field Therapies."

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive and challenging brain cancers to treat. Despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the prognosis for patients with GBM is often poor, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Recent research has explored new avenues for GBM treatment, focusing on the use of electric fields to disrupt cancer cell growth and personalized medicine approaches to tailor therapies to individual patient characteristics. These advancements offer hope for improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by this devastating disease.

This article delves into the latest breakthroughs in glioblastoma treatment, examining the potential of electric field therapies, the role of personalized medicine, and the ongoing efforts to enhance survivorship and address the educational needs of healthcare professionals involved in neuro-oncology care.

Electric Field Therapy: A Novel Approach to Glioblastoma Treatment

Abstract brain with glowing electric fields, symbolizing innovative cancer treatment.

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) have emerged as a promising non-invasive therapy for glioblastoma, utilizing alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division and proliferation. Clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of TTFields to improve survival rates in patients with both newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM.

A study presented at a recent neuro-oncology conference investigated the repurposing of deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes as a novel delivery method for therapeutic electric fields. Researchers found that delivering low-intensity, low-frequency electric fields via DBS electrodes had anti-proliferative effects on glioblastoma multiforme cell lines in vitro.

The study involved inserting Medtronic DBS electrodes into cell culture flasks and delivering electric fields over a range of voltages and frequencies to primary, adult, and pediatric GBM cell lines.
Cell viability, cell count, and cell cycle analyses were performed to assess the effects of electric field treatment on cancer cells.
Results showed that DBS electric fields negatively affected cell counts and viabilities of GBM cells, with cell viability reduced by up to 70% in U87 cells, 74% in SF188 cells, 71% in KNS42 cells, and 45% in GIN-5 cells.
Cell cycle analysis revealed that electrotreatment significantly increased the proportion of cells in the G0 phase, indicating cell cycle arrest.

These findings suggest that implantable DBS electrodes could serve as a localized electric field-based therapeutic strategy for treating brain tumors, potentially addressing compliance issues associated with current TTFields delivery methods like Optune. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this approach in clinical trials.

Looking Ahead: Improving Survivorship and Quality of Life

Ongoing research efforts are focused on improving survivorship and quality of life for patients with brain metastases. One study highlighted the importance of assessing and addressing the educational needs of non-neuro-oncology health professionals involved in the care of these patients. By providing targeted education and training, healthcare teams can enhance their ability to manage the complex needs of brain metastases patients and improve outcomes.

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Everything You Need To Know

What are Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), and how do they work against Glioblastoma Multiforme?

Tumor Treating Fields, or TTFields, is a non-invasive therapy that uses alternating electric fields to disrupt the division and growth of Glioblastoma Multiforme cells. These fields interfere with the cancer cells' ability to multiply, potentially slowing the progression of the disease. This approach differs significantly from traditional methods like chemotherapy and radiation by targeting the physical process of cell division.

How does personalized medicine change the landscape of Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment?

Personalized medicine in Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment tailors therapeutic strategies to the unique characteristics of each patient. This approach considers individual genetic and molecular profiles to select the most effective treatments, potentially improving outcomes and reducing side effects. Unlike a one-size-fits-all approach, personalized medicine aims to optimize treatment plans based on specific patient needs and responses.

What's the innovative approach of repurposing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) electrodes for Glioblastoma Multiforme therapy?

The repurposing of Deep Brain Stimulation electrodes for electric field therapy involves using existing DBS technology to deliver low-intensity, low-frequency electric fields directly to Glioblastoma Multiforme cells. Research indicates that these fields can have anti-proliferative effects, disrupting cancer cell growth. This method could offer a more localized and potentially more effective way to administer electric field therapy compared to existing methods.

What impact do Tumor Treating Fields and Deep Brain Stimulation-delivered electric fields have on Glioblastoma Multiforme cells, according to recent research?

Research indicates that Tumor Treating Fields and the use of Deep Brain Stimulation electrodes to deliver electric fields can negatively affect cell counts and viability of Glioblastoma Multiforme cells. Specifically, studies have shown significant reductions in cell viability and an increase in the proportion of cells in the G0 phase, indicating cell cycle arrest. The magnitude of these effects can vary depending on the Glioblastoma Multiforme cell line and the parameters of the electric field treatment.

Why is educating non-neuro-oncology health professionals important in managing Glioblastoma Multiforme, and what aspects require more attention?

The study on non-neuro-oncology health professionals highlights the critical need for targeted education and training to improve the care of patients. By enhancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare teams, patients receive better management of their complex needs, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and quality of life. Areas not covered included specialized training on specific treatment modalities like electric field therapy.