what are Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)?
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that exert physical forces to kill cancer cells via multiple, distinct mechanisms.1-7
- Electric fields have different effects on the human body depending on their frequency. 1,8-10
- Because cancer cells contain electrically charged components, they can be influenced by electric fields.7
how does TTFields Therapy work?
TTFields therapy has multiple, distinct mechanisms of action that work together to selectively target and kill cancer cells.1-5
TTFields do not significantly affect healthy cells because healthy cells have different properties (including division rate, morphology, and electrical properties) than cancer cells.
disruption of mitosis
In preclinical models, TTFields have been shown to disrupt mitosis in cancer cells by exerting electric forces on their polar components (e.g., microtubule spindle formation during mitosis), disrupting their normal localization (place in cell membrane) and function, ultimately leading to cell death.1-3
in metaphase
TTFields impair microtubule assembly in cancer cells, leading to aberrant mitotic spindle formation.2,4
in anaphase
TTFields disrupt the arrangement of septin at the anaphase cleavage furrow in cancer cells, inducing cytoplasmic membrane blebbing, mitotic failure, and asymmetric chromosome segregation.1,5
in telophase
TTFields push polar organelles and macromolecules (a process called dielectrophoresis) to the bridge between the forming daughter cells, where - due to the hourglass shape - TTFields intensity is highest.4,5
interference with cell movement and migration
In preclinical models, TTFields have been shown to alter the organization and dynamics of the cytoskeleton, disrupting cancer cell motility and migration, which are essential for metastasis.1
TTFields disrupt the direction and diminish the abundance of the microtubule network, interfering with cancer cell migration.1
enhancement of antitumor immunity
In pre-clinical models, TTFields-mediated cell disruption has been shown to activate the immune system and induce a downstream immunogenic anti-tumor response.1,12-16
downregulation of DNA damage response
In preclinical models, TTFields have been shown to downregulate important DNA damage response.1,17-20
TTFields therapy works with other cancer treatments in approved indications
Due to its multimechanistic actions, TTFields therapy can be added to cancer treatment modalities in approved indications and demonstrates enhanced effects across solid tumor types when used with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, or targeted therapies in preclinical models. TTFields therapy provides clinical versatility that has the potential to help address treatment challenges across a range of solid tumors.
GLB-CC-00328. Nov 2025
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