Purpose: To demonstrate that human breast cancer cells can be attracted to an electrically polarized conductive surface with a matching voltage.

Material and Methods: Rotational experimental equipment setup with 18 centrifuge tubes (15 ml) each with an inserted titanium electrode plate fitted in each centrifuge tube. All 18 centrifuge tubes were loaded with breast cancer cells (MCF-7) suspended in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium with GlutaMAXTM.

Out of eighteen centrifuge tubes, eight centrifuge tubes/electrodes were connected anodically and the other eight tubes connected cathodically: the remaining two plates had no electrical connections and acted as an experimental control. The experimental setup was placed in an incubator at 37ºC. Electrical power was turned on to supply the cathode’s (59 mV ± 0.5 mV), and anode’s (57 mV ± 0.2 mV). The rotating assembly, powered by small DC motor, completed two rotations per minute: this was intended to offset the effects of gravity (to the cells) and to impart agitation for the cells. The experiment was conducted for 3 hours. After that, electrical connections, remaining cells and buffer solution were removed and the anode and cathode carefully disassembled for both optical and scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Results: Titanium electrodes with negative polarization had more adherent cells compared to the positively charged plate; breast cancer cells morphology also investigated while observing each electrode specimen. It was apparent that most of the cells migrated towards the negative polarity and they habituated on the plate with evidence of good adherency. Furthermore, most of the cells migrated as clusters rather a single cell unit.

Conclusions: The breast cancer cells have a higher capacity of depolarization and, when the MCF-7 cells are at a weakly metastatic stage, they exhibit migration towards the cathode.