Abstract
Exposure to time-varying electromagnetic fields (EMF) has the capacity to influence biological systems. Our results demonstrate that exposure to time-varying EMF modeled after the physiological firing frequency of intercellular calcium waves can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in malignant cells. Single exposure of B16-BL6 cells to a Ca(2+) EMF for 40 min reduced the number of viable cells by 50.3%. Cell imaging with acridine orange and ethidium bromide dye revealed substantial cellular apoptosis, preapoptotic cells, nuclear fragmentation, and large spacing between cells in the Ca(2+) EMF condition when compared to the control condition. The ability of Ca(2+) EMF to influence the proliferation and survival of malignant cells suggests that exposure to specific EMF may function as a potential anticancer therapy.