# Static magnetic field and alternating magnetic field cytotoxic effects on triple negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231)

**Authors:** Heba S. Quenawy, Heba Nafea, Nermin Salah, Rana A. Youness, Noha Mohamed, Magdy M. Ghannam, Nermeen M. Serag

PMC · DOI: 10.1007/s12032-025-03098-1 · 2025-11-20

## TL;DR

This study explores using static and alternating magnetic fields as non-invasive treatments for aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating the cytotoxic effects of magnetic fields on MDA-MB-231 cancer cells.

## Key findings

- Exposure to static magnetic fields reduced cell viability to 58.14% and antioxidant capacity to 74.8%.
- Alternating magnetic fields decreased cell viability to 51.17% and antioxidant capacity to 89.97%.
- Magnetic fields caused cell cycle changes and cytoskeletal disruption in cancer cells.

## Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is described as the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. TNBC is characterized by the absence of three receptors commonly found in other breast cancer subtypes: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It has a high metastasis capacity, Poor prognosis, and shows a high incidence among young African women with the BRCA1 gene mutation. Thus, TNBC patients are left with limited treatment options. Herein, the magnetic field is chosen as a non-invasive treatment that eliminates the side effects of other conventional therapeutic options. MDA-MB-231 cells were exposed to two types of magnetic fields: a static magnetic field (SMF) and an alternating magnetic field (AMF), with varying intensities and durations. Both SMF and AMF showed cytotoxic effects; cells showed a decrease in viability to percentages up to 58.14 ± 5.51% after exposure to SMF, and 51.17 ± 3.53 % after exposure to AMF, changes in morphological features, changes in populations in cell cycle stages-accumulation in \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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## Linked entities

- **Genes:** BRCA1 (BRCA1 DNA repair associated) [NCBI Gene 672]
- **Diseases:** triple-negative breast cancer (MONDO:0005494), breast cancer (MONDO:0004989)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 2099] {aka ER, ESR, ESRA, ESTRR, Era, NR3A1}, ERBB2 (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 2064] {aka CD340, HER-2, HER-2/neu, HER2, MLN 19, MLN-19}, BRCA1 (BRCA1 DNA repair associated) [NCBI Gene 672] {aka BRCAI, BRCC1, BROVCA1, FANCS, IRIS, PNCA4}, PGR (progesterone receptor) [NCBI Gene 5241] {aka NR3C3, PR}
- **Diseases:** metastasis (MESH:D009362), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), triple (MESH:C536008), TNBC (MESH:D064726)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Cell lines:** MDA-MB-231 — Homo sapiens (Human), Breast adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0062)

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12630180/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12630180