Microwave-Enhanced Tumor Therapy Techniques
Summary
Microwave-enhanced tumour therapy encompasses a range of approaches that harness microwave energy to eradicate cancerous tissues through thermal and non-thermal mechanisms. Traditional microwave ablation relies on rapid heating of malignant cells, achieving cytotoxic temperatures yet often encountering challenges of uneven energy distribution and collateral damage to adjacent healthy structures. Advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of microwave sensitizers and catalysts that localise heating, generate reactive oxygen species and modulate the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Integration with drug delivery systems and imaging modalities has created multifunctional platforms capable of simultaneous therapy and real-time monitoring. Recent efforts have also focused on immunomodulation, exploiting microwave-induced cell death to trigger systemic antitumour immunity. By combining precise thermal ablation with catalytic and immunogenic enhancements, microwave-enhanced techniques offer the prospect of improved local control, reduced recurrence and synergistic effects when paired with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immune checkpoint blockade.
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Microwave-Enhanced Tumor Therapy Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microwave-enhanced tumor therapy techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microwave ablation: A localised thermal treatment employing electromagnetic waves to heat and destroy tumour tissue.
Microwave dynamic therapy: A modality combining microwave irradiation with responsive agents to generate reactive species and enhance tumour cell kill beyond simple hyperthermia.
Nanozyme: A nanomaterial exhibiting enzyme-like catalytic activity, often used to modulate chemical reactions within the tumour microenvironment.
Metal–organic framework (MOF): A porous crystalline composite of metal nodes and organic linkers, serving as a versatile platform for drug delivery, imaging and microwave sensitisation.
Pyroptosis: A form of programmed cell death marked by cell swelling, membrane rupture and release of pro-inflammatory signals.
Hypoxic microenvironment: A tumour region characterised by low oxygen levels, often impeding the efficacy of conventional therapies.
References
- Engineering liquid metal-based nanozyme for enhancing microwave dynamic therapy in breast cancer PDX model. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2023).
- Lanthanide europium MOF nanocomposite as the theranostic nanoplatform for microwave thermo-chemotherapy and fluorescence imaging. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2022).
- Reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment with reduced redox level by microwave-chemo-immunostimulant Ce–Mn MOF for improved immunotherapy. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2022).
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