by Nie Lili and Zhao Weiwei, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Under the influence of electrodes, low-temperature plasma emits a purple glow in the laboratory. Credit: Nie Lili

A recent study has shown that low-dose Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) treatment could effectively slow down tumor growth. The research, published in Advanced Science, suggests that CAP could be a promising new way to treat cancer, offering a potential alternative to traditional treatments.

CAP, a type of ionized gas, has already gained attention for its ability to selectively target tumor cells without harming surrounding healthy tissue. While it has shown great promise in killing cancer cells, one challenge has been how deeply CAP can penetrate into tumors, as the active ingredients quickly lose their effectiveness in deeper tissues.

In this study, researchers developed a new way to measure the effects of CAP on tumors. They proposed an evaluation methodology for the biological effect of CAP in vivo by detecting the levels of oxidative damage and cell death in continuous depth layers in tumor tissues, which would help to figure out the actual effective depth of CAP treatment.

The mechanism of CAP induced mitotic catastrophe. Credit: Nie Lili

"Even low doses of CAP were effective in slowing down tumor growth," said Dr. Nie Lili, a member of the team.

CAP damages the mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cell. This damage messes up the cell's energy production and causes oxidative stress. The lack of energy and stress on the cells prevent them from dividing properly. This leads to a form of cell death called "mitotic catastrophe," which stops the tumor from growing.

"Our works provide valuable theoretical support and research methods for further study and investigation of the anti-tumor effect of CAP treatment," said Prof. Han Wei.

More information: Shengjie Peng et al, Unleashing the Power of Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Inducing Mitochondria Damage‐Mediated Mitotic Catastrophe, Advanced Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401842

Journal information: Advanced Science 

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences