Dielectric Properties of VX-2 Carcinoma Versus Normal Liver Tissue

The bulk electrical properties of an implanted VX-2 carcinoma in rabbit liver tissue were measured from 1 kHz to 13 MHz, together with those of normal rabbit liver tissue. At the lower end of the frequency range, the conductivity of the tumor tissue was 6-7.5 times higher and its permittivity was 2-5 times lower than that of the normal tissue. The increased conductivity of the tumor tissue is believed to arise from the presence of widespread necrosis in the tumor nodules. Such differences, if generally present between tumor and surrounding normal tissues, could be used to advantage in clinical applications of electromagnetic fields.