Amin Talebinezhad,1Flora Forouzesh,2,*Kiomars Yasserian,3
1. M.Sc. in Genetics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science & Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 2. Department of Genetics; Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 3. Department of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Department of Physics, Solid State Physics
Introduction: Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP), especially cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), is emerging as a potential tool in cancer therapy. CAP generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which can cause oxidative stress and trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. This review aims to summarize recent advancements from 2022 to 2024 in the use of APP for cancer treatment, highlighting the mechanisms involved, therapeutic efficacy, and prospects.
Methods: A comprehensive search was performed using full consensus, focusing on studies published between 2022 and 2024. Keywords included "atmospheric pressure plasma", "cold atmospheric plasma", " plasma-activated solutions" and "cancer therapy". Studies were selected based on relevance to the application of APP in cancer therapy, including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Data extraction focused on study design, CAP devices used, treatment protocols, observed effects, and proposed mechanisms.
Results: Plasma-activated solutions (PAS), which contain reactive oxygen species generated by APP, have shown significant antitumor activity. PAS functions similarly to direct plasma treatment but offers advantages in terms of treatment depth and area. CAP generates RONS that induce oxidative stress, leading to apoptosis and necrosis in cancer cells. By altering the redox balance, CAP triggers cell death pathways selectively in tumor cells while sparing normal cells. CAP has demonstrated pro-apoptotic effects in head and neck cancer cells. Despite promising preclinical results, the standardization of treatment protocols is necessary for clinical translation. CAP enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs by overcoming drug resistance mechanisms. RONS generated by CAP can disrupt cancer cell survival pathways, boosting drug efficacy.
Conclusion: Atmospheric pressure plasma, particularly CAP and PAS, offers innovative approaches to cancer therapy with promising preclinical results. These technologies show potential for selectively targeting cancer cells, enhancing chemotherapy efficacy, and minimizing side effects. Continued research and clinical trials are essential to establish standardized protocols and validate the clinical effectiveness and safety of these therapies.
Keywords: Plasma-activated solutions, cold atmospheric plasma, Atmospheric pressure plasma, Cancer