Terahertz (THz) radiation has shown unique advantages in biomedical applications for novel diagnostic technologies due to the high sensitivity to molecular structure and chemical concentration. However, emerging evidence shows that intense pulses of THz radiation can induce significant non-thermal biological effects that must be characterized. In human skin exposed to intense THz pulses, relatively large responses characterized by differential gene expression profiles are observed. These data are analyzed by signaling pathway perturbation analysis to predict phenotypic endpoints and dysregulatory effects on cancer-related processes. The activities of several important pathways that drive the initiation, development, and progression of many human cancers are predicted to be suppressed, and this effect is intensity-dependent. Some affected pathways are targets for current and emerging anti-cancer therapies. In particular, the activity of the Ras signaling and Calcium signaling pathways is predicted to be significantly inhibited. These results indicate the possibility of an additional therapeutic mechanism of intense THz pulses, due to the potential for targeted suppression of pro-mitotic activity in diseased tissue.

由于对分子结构和化学浓度的高度敏感性，太赫兹 (THz) 辐射在新型诊断技术的生物医学应用中显示出独特的优势。然而，新出现的证据表明，太赫兹辐射的强脉冲可以引起显着的非热生物效应，必须对其进行表征。在暴露于强烈太赫兹脉冲的人类皮肤中，观察到以差异基因表达谱为特征的相对较大的反应。这些数据通过信号通路扰动分析来预测表型终点和对癌症相关过程的失调影响。驱动许多人类癌症的发生、发展和进展的几个重要途径的活动预计会受到抑制，并且这种影响是强度依赖性的。一些受影响的通路是当前和新兴抗癌疗法的目标。特别是，该组织的活动预计Ras 信号传导和钙信号传导途径将受到显着抑制。这些结果表明，由于有针对性地抑制患病组织中促有丝分裂活动的潜力，强太赫兹脉冲的额外治疗机制的可能性。