Low-Intensity Vibration Increases the Repair Rate of Cancer Cells
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Anamaria Zavala, Boise State University
Presentation Date
7-16-2026
Abstract
As innovations in cancer treatment cause an upward trend in survival rates for United States citizens, the side effects that decrease the quality of these patients’ now longer lives becomes an increasingly pressing issue. Cisplatin, a compound widely used in chemotherapy, is known to damage bone cells, causing an increased risk of fractures that may result in severe pain, posture deterioration, and height loss. This study aims to lessen these side effects by inducing bone cell growth via routine low intensity vibration (LIV). Researchers targeted the gene ERCC6, which is responsible for repairing DNA damage, with the gene-editing method CRISPR and added a fluorescent green tag to view the prevalence of the proteins created by this gene both with and without the presence of cisplatin damage. Findings suggest that cells experiencing LIV after cisplatin damage have increased ability to repair DNA compared to those that do not go through vibrations. Further studies will observe how much damaged DNA appears in cells across different time periods and what length of the time will provide the strongest therapy.
Low-Intensity Vibration Increases the Repair Rate of Cancer Cells
As innovations in cancer treatment cause an upward trend in survival rates for United States citizens, the side effects that decrease the quality of these patients’ now longer lives becomes an increasingly pressing issue. Cisplatin, a compound widely used in chemotherapy, is known to damage bone cells, causing an increased risk of fractures that may result in severe pain, posture deterioration, and height loss. This study aims to lessen these side effects by inducing bone cell growth via routine low intensity vibration (LIV). Researchers targeted the gene ERCC6, which is responsible for repairing DNA damage, with the gene-editing method CRISPR and added a fluorescent green tag to view the prevalence of the proteins created by this gene both with and without the presence of cisplatin damage. Findings suggest that cells experiencing LIV after cisplatin damage have increased ability to repair DNA compared to those that do not go through vibrations. Further studies will observe how much damaged DNA appears in cells across different time periods and what length of the time will provide the strongest therapy.