Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity under 28 GHz 5G-band electromagnetic radiation in rats: Insights into the mitigative role of vitamin C

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DOX), an effective anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent, induces cardiotoxicity through oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of apoptotic pathways. As millimeter-wave frequencies used in fifth-generation (5G) communication systems continue to expand, experimental data on potential biological interactions under clinically relevant conditions remain limited. This study investigated whether short-term 28-GHz electromagnetic radiation (EMR) modifies the cardiac response to DOX and evaluated the potential protective role of vitamin C. Thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to five groups (n = 6): Sham, DOX, DOX + Vit C, DOX + 5G, and DOX + 5G + Vit C. DOX (15 mg/kg intraperitoneally, six injections) induced cardiotoxicity, while vitamin C (250 mg/kg orally) was administered daily for 14 days. EMR exposure consisted of three 10-min cycles per day at 28 GHz for 14 days. Cardiac injury was assessed using electrocardiography, serum cTnI, oxidative markers (MDA, GSH, SOD, CAT), apoptotic and inflammatory gene expression (BAX, CASP3, BCL-2, TNF-α), and design-based stereology.

DOX induced significant functional, biochemical, molecular, and structural alterations. Co-exposure to 28-GHz EMR amplified reductions in CAT (p < 0.001), and enhanced pro-apoptotic BAX gene expression (p < 0.0001), accompanied by QT interval prolongation (p < 0.05). Vitamin C provided partial protection across these endpoints. Under the specific short-term pre-clinical conditions tested, these findings indicate that 28-GHz EMR can modulate the severity of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, while vitamin C confers modest attenuation. Further long-term and clinical studies are needed to clarify mechanisms and refine translational relevance.