Direct-Current Electric Field Distribution in the Brain for Tumor Treating Field Applications: A Simulation Study

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy have been clinically reported to provide prolonged overall survival in glioblastoma patients. Alternating electric felds with frequencies of 100∼300 kHz and magnitudes of 1∼3 V/cm are shown to suppress the growth of cancer cells via interactions with polar molecules within dividing cells. Since it is difcult to directly measure the electric felds inside the brain, simulation models of the human head provide a useful tool for predicting the electric feld distribution. In the present study, a three-dimensional fnite element head model consisting of the scalp, the skull, the dura, the cerebrospinal fuid, and the brain was built to study the electric feld distribution under various applied potentials and electrode confgurations. For simplicity, a direct-current electric feld was used in the simulation. Te total power dissipation and temperature elevation due to Joule heating in diferent head tissues were also evaluated. Based on the results, some guidelines are obtained in designing the electrode confguration for personalized glioblastoma electrotherapy.