Medical/biological study (observational study)

Connection between Cell Phone use, p53 Gene Expression in Different Zones of Glioblastoma Multiforme and Survival Prognoses. med./bio.

By: Akhavan-Sigari R, Baf MM, Ariabod V, Rohde V, Rahighi S

Published in: Rare Tumors 2014; 6 (3): 5350

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The relationship between usage time of cell phones, p53 expression in tumor cells and survival time of glioblastoma patients should be investigated.

Background/further details

The removed tumors of 63 glioblastoma patients (38 male and 25 female) with an average age of 55 years were investigated. Additionally, every patient filled out a questionnaire which provided, among other things, information on the usage of cell phones.

Endpoint

cancer: relationship between p53 expression, p53 mutations, survival time and cell phone usage

Exposure

- 800–1,900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 800–1,900 MHz Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure of less than 3 hours	SAR: 1.42 W/kg mean SAR: 1.53 W/kg maximum SAR: 0.66 W/kg minimum
Exposure 2: 800–1,900 MHz Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure of more than 3 hours	SAR: 1.42 W/kg mean SAR: 1.53 W/kg maximum SAR: 0.66 W/kg minimum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	800–1,900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure of less than 3 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	duration of daily usage of cell phone was acquired via questionnaire

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.42 W/kg	mean	calculated	-	-
SAR	1.53 W/kg	maximum	measured	-	-
SAR	0.66 W/kg	minimum	measured	-	-

Additional parameter details

exposure to other electromagnetic fields was not regarded in the experiment

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	800–1,900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure of more than 3 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.42 W/kg	mean	-	-	-
SAR	1.53 W/kg	maximum	-	-	-
SAR	0.66 W/kg	minimum	-	-	-

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: detection of p53 mutations in central and peripheral tumor tissue (FASAY (=functional analysis of separated alleles in yeast) assay)
molecular biosynthesis: p53 gene expression in central and peripheral tumor tissue (real-time RT-PCR)
cancer: see "morphol./histopathol. changes"
morphol./histopathol. changes: histopathologic examination of turmor (classification according to World Health Organization Criteria including number and type of cells, nuclear atypia, mitoses, microvascular proliferation and necrosis; microscopy)
survival time, questionnaire on cell phone usage, clinical and pathological data of patients

Investigated system:

tumor
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

93.6% of the investigated tumors expressed a p53 mutation with a loss of the normal protein function, which was a significant correlation. Moreover, 65% of the patients who used their cell phone more than 3 hours per day showed a significantly higher mutant p53 expression in the peripheral zone of the tumor compared to the expression in the central zone, which was in turn significantly correlated with a shorter overall survival time.
The authors conclude that these results show a relationship between cell phone use, the occurrence of p53 in the peripheral zone of glioblastomas and the overall survival time and that further studies should address this topic more accurately.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Yilmaz A et al. (2014): The effects of mobile phones on apoptosis in cerebral tissue: an experimental study on rats.
Carlberg M et al. (2014): Decreased Survival of Glioma Patients with Astrocytoma Grade IV (Glioblastoma Multiforme) Associated with Long-Term Use of Mobile and Cordless Phones.
Omuro A et al. (2013): Glioblastoma and other malignant gliomas: a clinical review.
Hardell L et al. (2013): Use of mobile and cordless phones and survival of patients with glioma.
Bourthoumieu S et al. (2013): Study of p53 expression and post-transcriptional modifications after GSM-900 radiofrequency exposure of human amniotic cells.
Dasdag S et al. (2009): Effect of mobile phone exposure on apoptotic glial cells and status of oxidative stress in rat brain.
Hirose H et al. (2006): Phosphorylation and gene expression of p53 are not affected in human cells exposed to 2.1425 GHz band CW or W-CDMA modulated radiation allocated to mobile radio base stations.
Czyz J et al. (2004): High frequency electromagnetic fields (GSM signals) affect gene expression levels in tumor suppressor p53-deficient embryonic stem cells.
Li JR et al. (1999): TP53 tumor suppressor protein in normal human fibroblasts does not respond to 837 MHz microwave exposure.

Connection between Cell Phone use, p53 Gene Expression in Different Zones of Glioblastoma Multiforme and Survival Prognoses. med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Additional parameter details

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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