NUS team harnesses magnetic pulses to reprogram cancer-fighting immune cells

Scientists at NUS have discovered that pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) technology can reprogram macrophages—immune cells that often support tumour development—into cells that actively combat cancer. The finding represents a significant shift in immunotherapy approaches, moving away from traditional methods that attempt to eliminate cancer-promoting cells toward a strategy that converts them into therapeutic agents.

The Phase II clinical trial will expand testing of the PEMF technology beyond initial proof-of-concept work, focusing on its capacity to reduce tumour size and enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments in a larger patient population. This expansion follows promising preliminary results that demonstrated the approach's feasibility in reversing the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment.

The use of magnetic pulses to modify immune cell behaviour offers a non-invasive alternative to existing cancer immunotherapies. If successful, the technology could provide patients with additional treatment options while potentially reducing the side effects associated with conventional approaches. The trial will examine how PEMF treatment can be integrated with standard chemotherapy regimens to improve overall patient outcomes.

The research builds on growing understanding of how tumour-associated macrophages contribute to cancer progression. By converting these cells into anti-tumour agents rather than removing them, the NUS approach addresses a fundamental challenge in cancer immunotherapy—overcoming the immune tolerance that tumours develop.