Selective antitumor activity of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) involving molecular factors in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment

The local application of low-intensity electric fields at intermediate frequencies (Tumor Treating Fields – TTFields) has emerged as an effective anticancer treatment in conjunction with chemotherapy and immunotherapy for several solid tumors. Despite this progress, the phenotypic and genetic determinants underlying tumor sensitivity to TTFields remain largely unexplored, representing a critical gap in our understanding.

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of preclinical and translational studies describing the cellular factors that influence the anticancer properties of TTFields. An overview of recent omics studies on the complex cellular and molecular processes initiated by TTFields has revealed important mechanisms of action that warrant further investigation for their therapeutic potential.

The goal is to identify effects that can be leveraged to develop rational, synergistic co-treatments with anticancer agents that have complementary modes of action. In particular, the ability of TTFields to modulate the tumor microenvironment and reverse the local and systemic immunosuppression could represent a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy across different tumor types.