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Deutsche Zeitschrift für Onkologie 2001; 33(3): 85-90
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-19445
Wissenschaft & Forschung

Karl F. Haug Verlag, in: MVH Medizinverlage Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG

In Vitro Response of Retinoblastoma, Lymphoma and Non-malignant Cells to Direct Current: Therapeutic Implications

George D. O'Clock[1] , Tobias Leonard
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Publication History

Publication Date:
08 January 2002 (online)

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In vitro electrical stimulation results for a variety of cancer cells, using low-level direct currents, indicate that certain ranges or “windows” of current, or current density, will promote necrosis and the suppression of proliferation for malignant cells while normal cell proliferation is not as severely suppressed. In some cases, the proliferation index for the surrounding normal cell can be enhanced at the same current and current density levels that suppress malignant cell proliferation. These results have profound implications for electrotherapeutic techniques that have been applied toward the treatment of cancer, diseases of the visual system and other health problems. The results of this study indicate that two very important parameters that should be monitored in low-level direct current electrotherapeutic protocols are current and total charge.

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01 Correspondence to: George D. O'Clock, PhD, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Technology, 137 Trafton Science Center S, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001. e-mail: george.oclock@mankato.msus.edu

02 In some cases, Nordenström and Becker might prefer to include electrophoresis or electrophoretic transport [[17],[ 19]] in this process rather than using the term “electrical stimulation.”

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