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EMF Study
(Database last updated on Mar 27, 2024)

ID Number 2768
Study Type Epidemiology
Model Glioma cases (n = 806) previously enrolled in a collaborative population-based casecontrol study in Denmark, Finland and Sweden were followed up for survival.
Details

Abstract: Olsson, Schuz et al. 2018: Purpose Gliomas are the most common cancer of the brain, with a poor prognosis in particular for glioblastoma. In 2014, a study suggested reduced survival in relation to latency of mobile phone use among glioblastoma patients. A joint epidemiological/ experimental project to study effects of RF-EMF on tumor development and progression was established. The current analysis relates to the epidemiological part and addresses whether pre-diagnostic mobile phone use was associated with survival among glioma patients. Methods Glioma cases (n = 806) previously enrolled in a collaborative population-based casecontrol study in Denmark, Finland and Sweden were followed up for survival. Vital status, date of death, date of emigration, or date last known to be alive was obtained based on registry linkages with a unique personal ID in each country. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) stratified by country. Covariates investigated were sex, age, education, histology, treatment, anatomic location and marital status. Results No indication of reduced survival among glioblastoma patients was observed for various measures of mobile phone use (ever regular use, time since start of regular use, cumulative call time overall or in the last 12 months) relative to no or non-regular use. All significant associations suggested better survival for mobile phone users. Results were similar for high-grade and low-grade gliomas. Conclusions We found no evidence of reduced survival among glioma patients in relation to previous mobile phone use. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Ouadah, Lecomte, Deltour, Schüz et al. (2018): Purpose Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor which has one of the poorest prognosis. It is not clear if toxic environmental factors can influence its aggressiveness. Recently, it was suggested that brain cancer patients with heavy cell phone use showed reduced survival. Here we aimed to assess the effect of controlled brain averaged specific absorption rate (BASAR) from heavy use of cell phone radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RFEMF) on in vivo C6 brain tumors in Wistar rats. Methods C6 cells grafted male rats were exposed to GSM 900 MHz signal at environmental BASAR, 0 (sham), 0.25 or 0.5 W/kg (5 days a week, 45 min a day in restraint), or were cage controls (no restraint). At death, tumor volume and immunohistochemistry for CD31, cleaved caspase (CC) 3 and Ki67 were assessed to examine vascularization, apoptosis and cellular divisions, respectively. Moreover, immune cell invasion, necrosis and mitotic index were determined. Results Results showed no BASAR effect on survival (31 days post-graft median), tumor volume, mitotic index, vascularization, infiltration, necrosis or cell division. However, results suggested a BASAR-dependent reduction of immune cell invasion and apoptosis. Conclusions Our data suggested an action of RFEMF by reducing immune cell invasion and glioblastoma cell apoptosis, at probably too low amplitude to impact survival. Further replication studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Findings No Effects
Status Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator
Funding Agency French National Res Program for Env & Occup Health
Country FRANCE
References
  • Olsson, A et al. Journal of Neuro-Oncology., (2019) 141:139-149
  • Ouadah, NS et al. Journal of Neuro-Oncology., (2018) 140:539-546
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