Feasibility of using cold atmospheric plasma in the treatment of cancer patients (literature review)

Radiation and photodynamic therapy used in anti-cancer therapy generate only active forms of oxygen. High NO concentrations has been shown to induce apoptosis of tumor cells, suggesting that nitrogen-dependent stress can be one of the decisive factors in anti-cancer therapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a highly reactive ionized physical state that causes various biological effects. The processes of ionization, dissociation, excitation and recombination of atoms and molecules in CAP lead to the formation of a large number of active forms of oxygen and nitrogen. This review presents the results of studies revealing the mechanism of the antitumor effect of CAP, its effect on various tumor cell lines, and the treatment outcomes in animal models. Further studies on using CAP in cancer therapy are required.