System Maintenance Notice

Please note that maintenance work is scheduled between 4 AM and 5 AM - CET. During this time, you may experience reduced performance. Thanks for your patience.

Publications

Journal Article Review Epublish

PubMed: 40747454 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.07.031

Advances in cold atmospheric plasma therapy for cancer.

Bioact Mater 53:433-458

Authors: Tianxu Fang, Zhitong Chen, Guojun Chen

Affiliations

  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Paul C Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China. Advanced Therapeutic Center, National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices, Shenzhen, China. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China. State Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging Science and System, Shenzhen, China.
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, leveraging reactive species to selectively induce cancer cell death while sparing healthy tissues. This review summarizes the underlying mechanisms of CAP-mediated anti-cancer effects, including apoptosis, immunogenic cell death, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necrosis, and modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. Moreover, we highlight recent advances in CAP-based therapies, including direct CAP treatment and indirect approaches assisted by various delivery methods, encompassing fluids, hydrogels, tubes, and microneedles. Additionally, we survey the clinical efforts of CAP therapy for cancer. Overall, CAP represents a novel and versatile cancer treatment modality with significant translational potential. Continued research into its mechanisms, safety, and optimization strategies will be essential to harness its clinical benefits and expand its application across different cancer types.

MeSH

Cells, Cold Temperature, Neoplasms, Therapeutics, Cell Death, Plasma