Singapore – September 16, 2026 -- Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have eradicated tumours in 75 per cent of tested preclinical models using pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) alone, without chemotherapy, after just four 30-minute sessions. The study, led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, was published in the journal Smart Medicine on June 4, 2026.
PEMF device already cleared Phase 1 human safety trials
The same PEMF device used in the study has completed Phase 1 clinical trials, confirming its safety in humans. The NUS team is now seeking partners to fund and conduct Phase 2 efficacy trials to evaluate treatment performance in patients.
Magnetic pulses reprogram tumour-associated macrophages into cancer killers
The therapy targets tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), immune cells that cancer typically corrupts into an anti-inflammatory M2 "medic" state that shields tumours and promotes metastasis. A brief 10-minute PEMF exposure activates a protein called TRPC1 on M2-like TAMs, triggering a signalling cascade that converts them into the pro-inflammatory M1 "soldier" state, which then selectively attacks cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Discovery builds on prior work showing PEMFs boost chemotherapy drug uptake
The team previously demonstrated that brief PEMF exposure increases uptake of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX) by breast cancer cells. Franco-Obregón said the group will next evaluate whether the PEMF immunotherapy can work synergistically with chemotherapy for improved outcomes.
Market need grows as global breast cancer cases are projected to rise 33% by 2050
Breast cancer cases are projected to increase from 2.3 million in 2023 to more than 3.5 million by 2050, with annual deaths nearly doubling from 764,000 to almost 1.4 million over the same period. Existing treatments targeting TAMs have faced obstacles including off-target effects, tumour heterogeneity, and drug resistance.
"Our study represents a major advancement in breast cancer treatment by demonstrating the potential of PEMFs as a stand-alone, drug-free therapy,