DETROIT — The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute on Wednesday announced it has become the first facility in the world to prescribe a novel at-home therapy for advanced liver cancer that uses electromagnetic waves to target tumors.
Co-inventor Dr. Boris Pasche introduced the device, known as the “TheraBionic P1”, at a news conference, explaining that it operates via a small spoon-shaped antenna placed on a patient’s tongue.
“By holding the spoon in the mouth, the patient becomes an ‘antenna’ and receives the treatment throughout the body, so it treats the primary tumor as well as the metastasis,” Pasche said.
Karmanos physicians have already prescribed the electromagnetic treatment to two patients. The FDA approved TheraBionic P1 for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—the most common type of liver cancer—in September 2023, specifically for patients who have not responded to first- or second-line cancer therapies.
How It Works
Patients use TheraBionic P1 three times a day, one hour at a time. The device emits low levels of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic waves through a metal “spoon” that rests on the patient’s tongue. According to Dr. Pasche, the waves are intended to block tumor growth without damaging healthy tissue.
Potential to Extend Lives
While TheraBionic P1 is not considered curative, doctors hope it can prolong life and possibly shrink tumors in certain cases. Dr. Anthony Shields, a member of Karmanos’ gastrointestinal and neuroendocrine oncology team, says the ease of use at home is a major advantage.
“I often think about my patients in the past who would have benefited in having more time with their loved ones if this device was available,” Shields said. “Our team is excited to be able to offer our patients another option in the fight, which is why patients come to Karmanos.”
A Patient’s Story
The technology’s potential benefits are illustrated by the experience of Robert Perrier, who began using TheraBionic P1 in 2011 during a trial in Germany. After experiencing side effects from oral chemotherapy, Perrier continued to rely on the TheraBionic device exclusively for his cancer treatment. Perrier lived nearly six years post-diagnosis before passing away due to kidney failure unrelated to his tumor progression.
“The TheraBionic device provided my husband several additional years of life,” said his wife, Eveline Perrier. “I hope other patients will be able to benefit from the device in the future.”
Beyond Cancer Therapy: The Electromagnetic Radiation Debate
Although TheraBionic P1 demonstrates promising therapeutic applications of RF waves, it also brings renewed attention to a wider conversation about electromagnetic radiation safety. Over the past two decades, organizations like RF Safe have raised alarms about the non-thermal biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). Their advocacy underscores the need for updated safety guidelines that keep pace with modern science.
RF Safe’s Mission
- Update FCC Safety Guidelines: Current FCC rules focus primarily on thermal effects and fail to account for growing evidence of possible non-thermal harms.
- Restart National Toxicology Program (NTP) Cancer Research: Research into RF radiation’s long-term health impacts has stalled despite findings from the NTP and Ramazzini Institute that link certain RF exposures to cancers in animals.
- End FCC Regulatory Capture: RF Safe calls for strong conflict-of-interest policies at the FCC to ensure public health takes precedence over industry profits.
- Amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Restore local authority to make decisions about cell tower placements based on health concerns.
Key Scientific Findings
- NTP & Ramazzini Institute Studies: Indicate carcinogenic potential in animal studies, including tumors similar to those found in humans.
- BioInitiative Report: Summarizes over 1,800 studies on EMF health effects, ranging from DNA damage to neurological impacts.
- FDA-Approved TheraBionic Treatment: Demonstrates non-thermal RF can have beneficial therapeutic uses, emphasizing the complexity of EMF science.
Why It Matters
As the TheraBionic P1 device shows, electromagnetic waves can be harnessed for healing—yet much of the existing public infrastructure and regulatory framework has not fully acknowledged the potential risks of everyday EMF exposures.
“As long as you make the disease stable and you don’t decrease the quality of life—unfortunately, much of my chemotherapy does—then [patients] can have a prolonged quality of life,” Dr. Shields said of TheraBionic’s targeted use of RF.
But advocates at RF Safe say the same attention to detail should be applied when regulating ubiquitous sources of non-thermal EMF in our environment.
Call to Action
- Contact Elected Officials: Urge them to adopt updated FCC guidelines that reflect current EMF science.
- Support Ongoing Research: Reinstate and expand NTP cancer studies to fully understand long-term RF exposure.
- Stay Informed: Read the BioInitiative Report and other peer-reviewed research on non-thermal EMF effects.
- Practice Safe Technology Use: Choose wired connections, limit device usage, and maintain distance when possible.
Moving Forward
The pioneering prescription of the TheraBionic P1 at Karmanos represents a powerful step forward in the fight against advanced liver cancer, offering new hope for patients who have exhausted other treatment options. At the same time, it underscores the dual nature of RF energy—its potential for both healing and harm—and the urgent need for well-informed, science-based policies.
For more information on ongoing efforts to update safety guidelines and protect public health, RF Safe encourages reaching out to elected officials, supporting renewed research at the NTP, and learning how to minimize unnecessary EMF exposure.