Non-Thermal Radio Frequency Stimulation of Tubulin Polymerization in Vitro: A Potential Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Abstract

The use of radio frequency energy is an established technology for certain oncology therapies. Direct inputs of radio frequency (RF) energy as thermal energy are applied to ablate tumors or cata-lyze secondary reactions in adjunct treatments against certain tumor types. Yet, other applications are being developed which take advantage of properties of RFs that impinge on biological proteins and cells without thermal effects. Here we report a proof-of-concept application of specific, digitally encoded, low power (non-thermal) radio frequency energy in an in vitro preparation of a tu-bulin polymerization assay. The radio frequency energy signal, designated M2(3), was applied to the tubulin polymerization assay samples during spectrophotometric measurements to assess the effectiveness for enhancing tubulin polymerization. A commercially available taxane (paclitaxel) that promotes tubulin polymerization was used as a control to assess the effectiveness of the M2(3) radio frequency energy signal on tubulin polymerization rates. A low power, specific, digital radio frequency energy signal is capable of promoting tubulin polymerization as effectively as a commercially available taxane.