Colon Cancer Therapy Based on Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of tumor-related mortality worldwide. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma has increasingly attracted the attention of scientists and researchers for its ability to remove tumors through selective cell death. In this study, the anticancer effects and mechanisms of plasma-induced apoptosis (direct or indirect helium, and direct or indirect argon plasma) in vitro and in vivo were assessed. The studies demonstrated that all plasma groups effectively induced DNA damage, thus leading to cell cycle arrest with an increase in the G0/G1 phase. Tumoricidal effects on mouse models bearing CT-26 cells revealed significant inhibition of tumor growth. Histological tests showed, tumor growth rates were inhibited significantly by PAM (plasma-activated medium; indirect helium/ or argon) and direct argon plasma. Additionally, the histological score indicated that both direct helium and direct argon resulted in the highest levels of cell death. The application of cold plasma application selectively eradicated cancer and significantly reduced tumor size in vivo without damaging normal cells.

Keywords

• cold atmospheric pressure plasma
• colon cancer
• cell cycle arrest
• apoptosis
• selective targeting therapy