Treating cancer with Electric Fields

In this TED lecture, Bill Doyle talks about using a low power electric field to treat tumors. In cancer, cells rapidly divide and lead to uncontrolled tumor growth. Taking advantage of the charged proteins that guide cells through mitosis, the electric field misaligns the guiding proteins and prevents the cell from dividing. The cells eventually go through apoptosis after spending several hours unable to divide.

Novocure, the company capitalizing on the research, has developed two systems. One for cancers in head  and another for the trunk of the body. The head system was specifically designed for a type of brain cancer call Glioblastoma Muiforme (GBM). The system was recently approved by the FDA. In addition, the system is portable and mobile.

The other system is currently working on lung cancer, and is due for clinical trials soon.

See the Lecture Here
Company Website Here