Terahertz Waves Induced DSBs in Breast Cancer Cells

Terahertz (THz) waves have shown potential in various biomedical applications due to their non-ionizing nature and unique interaction properties with biological systems. In this study, we investigate the effect of THz waves on the growth of breast cancer cells. We found that exposure to THz waves resulted in the induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in breast cancer cells. DSBs are highly cytotoxic DNA lesions that can lead to cell death or genomic instability if not properly repaired. Using immunofluorescence assays, we observed an increase in the formation of 53BP1 foci, a marker of DSBs, in breast cancer cells treated with THz waves compared to the control group. Next, we injected the irradiated breast cancer cells subcutaneously into the mouse mammary gland and found that the tumor-forming ability of MCF-7 cells after THz irradiation was significantly decreased compared with the control group. In summary, this study provides a reference for the potential application of THz wave in cancer therapy.