Radiation and Tumour Treating Fields: Mechanisms and Applications in Oncology

Radiation therapy remains a fundamental component in treating various malignancies due to its ability to induce DNA damage, disrupt cellular replication, and modulate the tumor microenvironment. However, therapeutic resistance and off-target toxicities continue to pose significant clinical challenges. Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields), a novel non-invasive modality that utilizes low-intensity, intermediate-frequency alternating electric fields, has emerged as a complementary approach. It disrupts mitosis and exerts anti-tumor effects across various cancers, particularly glioblastoma. Recent studies have revealed promising interactions between TTFields and radiation, highlighting the potential for synergistic effects in targeting cancer cell proliferation, DNA repair pathways, and therapeutic resistance. Furthermore, these physical therapies are increasingly being explored for their impact on cancer stem cells, immune modulation, and mechanotransduction. This Research Topic seeks to explore the convergence of radiation and TTFields in oncology, offering new insights into the biological mechanisms and translational opportunities these complementary treatment modalities afford.

The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive platform for exploring the combined and individual effects of radiation therapy and Tumour Treating Fields in oncology. By bringing together multidisciplinary research on their mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, and biological targets, this Topic intends to foster innovative approaches for overcoming resistance, enhancing efficacy, and improving patient outcomes. We encourage contributions that deepen our understanding of how these physical fields influence tumor biology, stemness, DNA damage response, and the tumor microenvironment.

To gather further insights within the boundary of radiation and TTFields, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

1. Biological mechanisms of TTFields and radiation: mitotic disruption, DNA damage, and repair.
2. Combined TTFields and radiation therapy: synergistic effects and treatment planning strategies.
3. Influence of physical fields on cancer stem cells, immune modulation, and tumor heterogeneity.
4. Preclinical and clinical studies on TTFields and radiation in solid tumors.
5. Technological innovations in field delivery systems and bioengineering approaches.

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Radiation Therapy, Tumour Treating Fields (TTF), DNA Damage Response, Cancer Stem Cells, Therapeutic Resistance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.