The potential of terahertz waves in treating diverse disease scenarios.

Currently, clinical research on terahertz waves focuses primarily on three areas: adjuvant cancer therapy, chronic inflammation intervention, and functional conditioning. Its non-invasive advantages are particularly prominent in practice.

In adjuvant cancer therapy, terahertz waves demonstrate the dual potential of "targeted hyperthermia + immune activation." By precisely controlling the temperature of the tumor region to 43°C for 60 minutes, terahertz waves can induce a decrease in cancer cell membrane stability, triggering programmed apoptosis (apoptosis), while also promoting high expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), enhancing tumor cell sensitivity to chemoradiation. When combined with PD-1 inhibitors, terahertz waves can reverse the immunosuppressive state of the tumor microenvironment. Studies have shown that they can increase the objective response rate in melanoma patients to 58%. For radiation-induced fibrosis after chemoradiation, local irradiation can promote fibroblast regeneration and mitigate tissue damage. Furthermore, its thermal effects can lead to embolization of newly formed tumor microvessels, cutting off nutrient supply, creating a synergistic intervention for early-stage solid tumors.

Chronic inflammation management is another important application area for terahertz waves. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, terahertz wave irradiation can reduce levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α by 40%-60%, alleviating joint inflammation by modulating the immune response. For patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), treatment can reduce the International Symptom Score (IPSS) by 6-8 points and improve urination. This effect is believed to be directly related to molecular resonance regulating cellular metabolism and inhibiting inflammatory signaling.

Terahertz waves have also demonstrated positive effects in functional conditioning and chronic disease support. For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), targeted irradiation of the thymus region can increase alveolar surfactant secretion and improve forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1/FVC) by 12%-15%. For chronic fatigue syndrome, by modulating autonomic nervous system function, heart rate variability (HRV) can be improved by 25%. Its non-invasive nature makes it particularly suitable for patients with chronic diseases requiring long-term care.