Tubulin and Septin proteins

The target refers to highly polar intracellular proteins, specifically tubulin and septins, which are critical for the structural organization and successful division of tumor cells. During the mitotic phase of the cell cycle, tubulin dimers polymerize to form the mitotic spindle, while septins organize at the cleavage furrow to facilitate cytokinesis (PubMed: 24507151). These proteins possess significant intrinsic electric dipole moments, making them uniquely sensitive to external electric fields. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) exploit this physical property by applying intermediate-frequency alternating electric fields that exert dielectrophoretic forces on these polar structures (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2016). This interference prevents the proper alignment of the mitotic spindle and the formation of the septin ring, leading to mitotic arrest, abnormal chromosome segregation, and subsequent apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells while sparing quiescent healthy cells (PubMed: 22107111).

Other names

General polar cellular structures in dividing tumor cellsPolar intracellular moleculesMitotic spindle proteinsHighly polar intracellular proteins

Disruption of the assembly and orientation of highly polar proteins (tubulin and septins) during mitosis through the application of intermediate-frequency alternating electric fields, which exert dielectrophoretic forces on these molecules.