Singapore university researchers find magnetic pulses can turn immune cells against breast cancer

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have reportedly found that gentle magnetic pulses can reprogramme immune cells to attack breast cancer, — AFP pic

First Published: Monday, 14 Sep 2026 12:10 PM MYT

SINGAPORE, Sept 14 — Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have reportedly found that gentle magnetic pulses could reprogramme immune cells that normally support tumour growth into cells capable of attacking breast cancer.

According to The Straits Times, the researchers used intermittent, low-intensity pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) to eradicate tumours in 75 per cent of the pre-clinical models tested after four 30-minute sessions, without chemotherapy.

PEMFs are low-energy magnetic waves that can pass through the body without producing heat or damaging tissue.

Research leader Alfredo Franco-Obregon, from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, reportedly said the pulses interact with microscopic gates known as TRPC1 channels on cells, triggering a controlled influx of calcium that activates their mitochondria.

The researchers reportedly found that while the process can stimulate repair and energy production in healthy tissue, cancer cells were more vulnerable to excessive calcium and metabolic stress because they overexpress the channel protein.

The magnetic pulses were also found to reprogramme immune cells that promote tumour growth, causing them instead to consume breast cancer cells and helping restore the immune system’s ability to recognise and attack the cancer.

The findings were published on June 4 in the peer-reviewed journal Smart Medicine and build on earlier work by the same team showing that brief PEMF exposure could increase breast cancer cells’ uptake of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin.

Franco-Obregon said the researchers had previously found that PEMF exposure could halve the effective dose of drugs such as doxorubicin needed to suppress cancer cells, potentially reducing treatment-related side effects.

“Our clinical objective is to maximise efficacy while slashing toxicity,” he said, adding that the aim was to preserve patients’ quality of life and immune health without reducing therapeutic effectiveness.

However, the use of magnetic pulses to directly destroy cancer cells or alter the behaviour of immune cells has so far been demonstrated only in pre-clinical laboratory models and has not been established as a treatment in patients.

Franco-Obregon said work to translate the research into patient care was already under way.