Devices that emit Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are an exciting development in the treatment of lung cancer. TTFields are electrical currents that can disrupt cancer growth. They are administered through portable, wearable devices.
How do TTFields work?
TTFields use alternating, wave-like electric fields to interrupt cell division, which stops the cancer from growing.
How are TTFields given?
TTFields are delivered through electrodes placed on a patient’s skin that are connected to a portable device. The device is worn for 12 hours a day. Patients using TTFields will also take a type of immunotherapy called a PD-L1 inhibitor or a type of chemotherapy called docetaxel.
Who is eligible for treatment with TTFields?
Treatment with TTFields is currently approved for the patients who:
Have metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (i.e. cancer that has spread outside the lung)
And, whose cancer has grown or spread during or after chemotherapy
What are the side effects of treatment with TTFields?
Patients using a TTField device may have skin irritation and tingling from the device. Patients may also experience common side effects like nausea, vomiting and hair loss (among others) from the immunotherapy or chemotherapy given alongside TTFields.
For more questions about treating lung cancer with TTFields, contact your doctor.
Page last updated: February 12, 2025
