Journals / Sakarya Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 16 Issue: 3

Effect of 3200 MHz Radiofrequency Fields on MCF-7 and L929 Cell Lines

Sinem Oruç Eraslan(BANDIRMA ONYEDI EYLUL UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-9124-1245
Bahriye Sirav Aral(GAZI UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE)0000-0001-6003-6556
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-09-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It is also effective in increasing healthy fibroblast cells, suggesting that it can be used as an alternative method to wound healing and cell renewal treatments.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: The use of technological devices emitting radio frequency fields(RFF) is increasing day by day.
📊
Key Findings & Data:This study aims to examine the time-dependent effects of 3200MHz RFF on human breast cancer (MCF-7) and healthy mouse fibroblast (L929) cell lines.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:It is also effective in increasing healthy fibroblast cells, suggesting that it can be used as an alternative method to wound healing and cell renewal treatments.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Radiofrequency field · MCF-7 · L929

Abstract

Objective: The use of technological devices emitting radio frequency fields(RFF) is increasing day by day. Nowadays, low-frequency RFF has begun to be used in cancer treatment as a non-invasive method. However, the time-dependent effects of high-frequency RFF on healthy and cancer cells are not yet clear. This study aims to examine the time-dependent effects of 3200MHz RFF on human breast cancer (MCF-7) and healthy mouse fibroblast (L929) cell lines. Methods: MCF-7 and L929 cells were cultured with DMEM medium. RFF exposures were applied at 29.55dBm power levels (with Efield level 14V/m). MCF-7 and L929 cell lines were exposed to 3200 MHz RFF for 4 hours. Cell viability levels were determined immediately after exposure and following a 2-hour post-exposure incubation period. Results: Immediately after 4 hours of 3200 MHz RFF exposure, cell viability decreased significantly by 12% in MCF-7 cells, with a further 15% decrease observed after a 2-hour post-exposure period. In contrast, the L929 cell line exhibited a significant increase in viability, with levels rising by 27% immediately after exposure and by 16% following the 2-hour post-exposure period(p<0.0001). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that 3200MHz RFF exposure has a significant effect on the viability levels of cancer cells and that 3200MHz RFF can create the effect that low-frequency fields currently used as a non-invasive method have with a significant temperature increase, without a temperature increase. It is also effective in increasing healthy fibroblast cells, suggesting that it can be used as an alternative method to wound healing and cell renewal treatments.

🔖

Cite This Article

Eraslan, S. O., Günay, S., Ateş, K., Erden, Y., Aral, B. S. (2026). Effect of 3200 MHz Radiofrequency Fields on MCF-7 and L929 Cell Lines. Sakarya Tıp Dergisi, Volume: 16 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.31832/smj.1938619

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (35)

  1. Ziegelberger G, Croft R, Feychting M, et al. Guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz). Health Phys. 2020;118(5):483-524. doi:10.1097/HP.0000000000001210.
  2. Iarc W. IARC Classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly cancinogenic to humans. International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2011.
  3. Marjanović A-M, Pavičić I, Trošić I. Biological indicators in response to radiofrequency/microwave exposure. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2012;63(3):407-15. doi:10.2478/10004-1254-63-2012-2215.
  4. Yakymenko I, Tsybulin O, Sidorik E, Henshel D, Kyrylenko O, Kyrylenko S. Oxidative mechanisms of biological activity of low-intensity radiofrequency radiation. Electromagn Biol Med. 2016;35(2):186-202. doi:10.3109/15368378.2015.1043557.
  5. McGahan JP, Browning PD, Brock JM, Tesluk H. Hepatic ablation using radiofrequency electrocautery. Invest Radiol. 1990;25(3):267-70. doi:10.1097/00004424-199003000-00011.
  6. Rossi S, Fornati F, Pathies C, Buscarini L. Thermal lesions induced by 480 KHz localized current field in guinea pig and pig liver. Tumori. 1990;76(1):54-7. doi:10.1177/030089169007600114.
  7. Glazer ES, Zhu C, Massey KL, Thompson CS, Kaluarachchi WD, Hamir AN, et al. Noninvasive radiofrequency field destruction of pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts treated with targeted gold nanoparticles. Clin Cancer Res. 2010;16(23):5712-21. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-10-2055.
  8. Ripley RT, Gajdos C, Reppert AE, MacDermott T, McCarter MD, Pearlman NW. Sequential radiofrequency ablation and surgical debulking for unresectable colorectal carcinoma: Thermo‐surgical ablation. J Surg Oncol. 2013;107(2):144-7. doi:10.1002/jso.23211.
  9. Schwartz SM. Epidemiology of cancer. Clin Chem. 2024;70(1):140-9. doi:10.1093/clinchem/hvad202.
  10. Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell. 2011;144(5):646-74. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013.
  11. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2021;71(3):209-49. doi:10.3322/caac.21660.
  12. Gadaleta E, Thorn GJ, Ross‐Adams H, Jones LJ, Chelala C. Field cancerization in breast cancer. J Pathol. 2022;257(4):561-74. doi:10.1002/path.5902.
  13. Liedtke C, Mazouni C, Hess KR, André F, Tordai A, Mejia JA, et al. Response to neoadjuvant therapy and long-term survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(8):1275-81. doi:10.1200/JCO.2007.14.4147.
  14. Lehmann BD, Bauer JA, Chen X, Sanders ME, Chakravarthy AB, Shyr Y, et al. Identification of human triple-negative breast cancer subtypes and preclinical models for selection of targeted therapies. J Clin Invest. 2011;121(7):2750-67. doi:10.1172/JCI45014.
  15. Chen X, Xu D, Li X, Zhang J, Xu W, Hou J, et al. Latest overview of the cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 inhibitors in breast cancer: the past, the present and the future. J Cancer. 2019;10(26):6608. doi:10.7150/jca.33079.
  16. Barzaman K, Karami J, Zarei Z, Hosseinzadeh A, Kazemi MH, Moradi-Kalbolandi S, et al. Breast cancer: biology, biomarkers, and treatments. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020;84:106535.doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106535.
  17. Schmid G, Hirtl R, Gronau I, Meyer V, Drees K, Lerchl A. Design and dosimetric characterization of a broadband exposure facility for in vitro experiments in the frequency range 18–40.5 GHz. Bioelectromagnetics. 2022;43(1):25-39. doi:10.1002/bem.22376.
  18. Paffi A, Apollonio F, Lovisolo GA, Marino C, Pinto R, Repacholi M, et al. Considerations for developing an RF exposure system: a review for in vitro biological experiments. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. 2010;58(10):2702-14. doi:10.1109/TMTT.2010.2065351.
  19. Wessapan T, Keangin P, Rattanadecho P, Somsuk N. Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment. International Journal of Thermofluids. 2025;26:101090. doi:10.1016/j.ijft.2025.101090.
  20. İl N, Ateş K, Özen Ş. Electromagnetic field exposure to human head model with various metal objects at sub-6 GHz frequencies. Electromagn Biol Med. 2023;42(3):114-22. doi:10.1080/15368378.2023.2220736.
  21. Gökçek-Saraç Ç, Çetin E, Ateş K, Özen Ş, Karakurt S. Different duration of exposure to a pulsed magnetic field can cause changes in mRNA expression of apoptotic genes in oleic acid-treated neuroblastoma cells. Int J Radiat Biol. 2024;100(10):1471-80. doi:10.1080/09553002.2024.2386968.
  22. Gökçek-Saraç Ç, Akçay G, Karakurt S, Ateş K, Özen Ş, Derin N. Possible effects of different doses of 2.1 GHz electromagnetic radiation on learning, and hippocampal levels of cholinergic biomarkers in Wistar rats. Electromagn Biol Med. 2021;40(1):179-90. doi:10.1080/15368378.2020.1851251.
  23. Weiland T. A discretization model for the solution of Maxwell's equations for six-component fields. Archiv Elektronik und Uebertragungstechnik. 1977;31:116-120.
  24. Mosmann T. Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J Immunol Methods. 1983;65(1-2):55-63. doi:10.1016/0022-1759(83)90303-4.
  25. Abdilla L, Sammut C, Mangion LZ. Dielectric properties of muscle and liver from 500 MHz–40 GHz. Electromagn Biol Med. 2013;32(2):244-52. doi:10.3109/15368378.2013.776436.
  26. Gabriel S. The dielectric properties of biological tissues: I. Literature survey. Phys Med Biol. 1996;41:2271-93. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/41/11/001.
  27. Campbell A, Land D. Dielectric properties of female human breast tissue measured in vitro at 3.2 GHz. Phys Med Biol. 1992;37(1):193-210. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/37/1/014.
  28. Hasgall PA, Neufeld E, Neufeld E, Gosselin M, Klingenbock A, Kuster N, et al. IT’IS Database for thermal and electromagnetic parameters of biological tissues. Version 4.0, 2018.
  29. Marjanovic Cermak AM, Pavicic I, Trosic I. Oxidative stress response in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to short-term 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2018;53(2):132-8. doi:10.1080/10934529.2017.1383124.
  30. Nazıroğlu M, ÇIğ B, Doğan S, Uğuz AC, Dilek S, Faouzi D. 2.45-Gz wireless devices induce oxidative stress and proliferation through cytosolic Ca2+ influx in human leukemia cancer cells. Int J Radiat Biol. 2012;88(6):449-56. doi:10.3109/09553002.2012.682192.
  31. Zeng Q, Weng Y, Chen G, Lu D, Chiang H, Xu Z. Effects of global system for mobile communications 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on gene and protein expression in MCF-7 cells. Proteomics. 2006;40(3):4732-8. doi:10.1002/pmic.200600234.
  32. Shahbazi-Gahrouei D, Hashemi-Beni B, Moradi A, Aliakbari M, Shahbazi-Gahrouei S. Exposure to global system for mobile communication 900 mhz cellular phone radiofrequency alters growth, proliferation and morphology of michigan cancer foundation-7 cells and mesenchymal stem cells. Int J Prev Med. 2018;9:51. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_75_17.
  33. Reuter S, Gupta SC, Chaturvedi MM, Aggarwal BB. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer: how are they linked? Free Radic Biol Med. 2010;49(11):1603-16. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.09.006.
  34. Höytö A, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. Proliferation, oxidative stress and cell death in cells exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation and oxidants. Radiat Res. 2008;170(2):235-43. doi:10.1667/RR1322.1.
  35. Górski R, Nowak-Terpiłowska A, Śledziński P, Baranowski M, Wosiński S. Morphological and cytophysiological changes in selected lines of normal and cancer human cells under the influence of a radio-frequency electromagnetic field. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2021;28(1):163-71. doi:10.26444/aaem/118260.