Abstract 3339: TTFields for the management of spinal metastases in in vitro and in vivo models
Authors: de Almeida Romulo Augusto Andrade , Ledbetter Daniel , Wu Xizi , Naveh Ariel , Patel Chirag , Gonzalez Queena , Beckham Thomas H. , North Robert Y. , Rhines Laurence , Alvarez-Breckenridge Christopher A. , Tatsui Claudio E. 
Published: March 2024

Spine metastases often affect cancer patients, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Their prevalence has increased over time due to the progressive improvements in cancer management which led to a longer survival of these individuals. Radiation therapy is the mainstay treatment for local control of these lesions, with surgery reserved for selected cases (e.g., spinal instability, neurological deficits secondary to neural compression requiring urgent decompression, separation surgery). Chemotherapy addresses the diffusely metastatic spread. However, when spinal metastases progress despite using all the appropriate available treatment, there follows a progressive decline in function and further treatment options are limited, highlighting the need for development of novel therapies. Tumor treating fields (TTFields) has demonstrated to impair tumor cell replication and are influenced by surrounding tissue, such as bone (presents non-conductive properties). Our goal was to investigate the effects of TTFields in in vitro and in vivo spinal metastasis models. We hypothesize that the deposition of TTFields is increased in bone, and this would ultimately result in vertebral metastasis growth suppression. A computational model using a simulated spine resection cavity with metallic hardware was used to investigate the TTFields intensity in various tissues. For in vitro studies, luciferase tagged KRIB osteosarcoma and A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell lines were cultured in demineralized human bone graft. These were treated with TTFields and cell viability was quantified. In vivo assays were performed using a previous validated murine orthotopic tumor model. The effects of TTFields in these animals were monitored with imaging (bioluminescence and MRI) and clinical findings (progressive neurological deficits milestones that corresponds to the degree of spinal cord compression). At the end of the study, tissue was collected for histologic analysis. Sham stimulation was used for control groups. Computational simulation demonstrated an elevated TTFields intensity in the tumor-bone interface of the resected vertebral body. In all experimental models, TTFields significantly suppressed tumor cell growth. In vivo models, this effect on cell proliferation prevented tumor growth into the spinal canal, delaying, or even preventing, neurological deficits. TTFields inhibited tumor growth in three-dimensional cultures and orthotopic murine models of spinal metastases, preventing functional loss. The bony environment surrounding the tumor demonstrated to enhance the intensity of electric fields on a computational simulation, which stands as an advantage with the use of TTFields for vertebral tumors. These results provide solid evidence supporting future clinical trials investigating the effects of this novel and promising technology for the treatment of spine metastases.

Citation Format: Romulo Augusto Andrade de Almeida, Daniel Ledbetter, Xizi Wu, Ariel Naveh, Chirag Patel, Queena Gonzalez, Thomas H. Beckham, Robert Y. North, Laurence Rhines, Christopher A. Alvarez-Breckenridge, Claudio E. Tatsui. TTFields for the management of spinal metastases in in vitro and in vivo models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3339.