Tumor cytotoxicity and immunogenicity of a novel V-jet neon plasma source compared to the kINPen

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 8;11(1):136. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80512-w.

Abstract

Recent research indicated the potential of cold physical plasma in cancer therapy. The plethora of plasma-derived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) mediate diverse antitumor effects after eliciting oxidative stress in cancer cells. We aimed at exploiting this principle using a newly designed dual-jet neon plasma source (Vjet) to treat colorectal cancer cells. A treatment time-dependent ROS/RNS generation induced oxidation, growth retardation, and cell death within 3D tumor spheroids were found. In TUM-CAM, a semi in vivo model, the Vjet markedly reduced vascularized tumors' growth, but an increase of tumor cell immunogenicity or uptake by dendritic cells was not observed. By comparison, the argon-driven single jet kINPen, known to mediate anticancer effects in vitro, in vivo, and in patients, generated less ROS/RNS and terminal cell death in spheroids. In the TUM-CAM model, however, the kINPen was equivalently effective and induced a stronger expression of immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD) markers, leading to increased phagocytosis of kINPen but not Vjet plasma-treated tumor cells by dendritic cells. Moreover, the Vjet was characterized according to the requirements of the DIN-SPEC 91315. Our results highlight the plasma device-specific action on cancer cells for evaluating optimal discharges for plasma cancer treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunogenic Cell Death / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Neon / chemistry
  • Neon / pharmacology*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phagocytosis
  • Plasma Gases / chemistry
  • Plasma Gases / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Nitrogen Species / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular

Substances

  • Plasma Gases
  • Reactive Nitrogen Species
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Neon