Far Infrared (FIR) Therapy

An effective and oncological safe treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema

Highlights

Breast cancer-related lymphedema is a well-recognized complication of breast cancer surgery.
Far infrared ray (FIR) treatment can reduce fluid volume and extremities circumference.
This study aims to demonstrate clinically and in vitro the effectiveness and oncological safety of FIR.
Clinically, FIR does not promote the recurrence of breast cancer with no adverse reactions.
In vitro, FIR does not promote cell proliferation or shorten the cell cycles of breast cancer cells.

Abstract

Background

The incidence of breast cancer-related lymphedema is approximately 5%. Far infrared ray (FIR) treatment can potentially reduce fluid volume and extremity circumference as well as the frequency of dermato-lymphangitis (DLA). However, there is no published data on the oncological safety of FIR and the potential for activation of any residual breast cancer cells. This study aims to investigate the safety of far-infrared ray (FIR) treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema, clinically and in vitro.

Methods

Patients who underwent mastectomy more than 5 years ago complicated by upper extremity lymphedema for more than 1 year were included. The enrolled patients were divided into an FIR treatment group and a control group (conservative treatment using bandage compression). Outcome measures included tumor markers (CA153, CA125), ultrasonography of relevant structures, and monitoring for adverse reactions 1 year after treatment. For the in vitro part of the study, the effects of FIR on human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB231) compared to the effects of FIR on human dermal fibroblasts as a control were considered. The viability, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptotic statistics of the adenocarcinoma and human dermal fibroblast cell lines were analyzed and compared.

Results

Results demonstrated that after treatment with FIR, tumor marker (CA153, CA125) concentrations in both the FIR and control groups were not elevated. There was no statistically significant difference between FIR and control group marker expression (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no patients were diagnosed with lymphadenectasis or newly enlarged lymph nodes in these two groups. Importantly, there were no adverse events in either group. The in vitro experiment indicated that FIR radiation does not affect viability, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of fibroblasts, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusions

FIR should be considered feasible and safe for treating breast cancer-related lymphedema patients 5 years after mastectomy. FIR does not promote recurrence or metastasis of breast cancer and is a well-tolerated therapy with no adverse reactions

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