Medical gas plasma technology: Roadmap on cancer treatment and immunotherapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Oncology
• Plasma Physics

Background:

• Cancer remains a significant global health challenge despite ongoing therapeutic advancements.
• Early research in rodent models indicated gas plasma technology possesses potent antitumor capabilities.
• Medical gas plasma generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), key therapeutic effectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of medical gas plasma-derived ROS/RNS in cancer treatment.
• To explore the immunological dimension of gas plasma technology, including immunogenic cell death induction.
• To summarize the potential benefits and limitations of medical gas plasma onco-therapy from multiple perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental evidence on medical gas plasma's antitumor effects.
• Analysis of ROS/RNS mechanisms in cancer targeting, alone and in combination therapies.
• Examination of gas plasma's role in inducing immunogenic cell death and enhancing immunotherapy.
• Inclusion of preliminary clinical findings in cancer patients.

Main Results:

• Growing evidence supports ROS/RNS from medical gas plasma in targeting cancer.
• Gas plasma can be combined with ionizing radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
• Gas plasma induces immunogenic cell death, potentially boosting cancer immunotherapies.
• Initial clinical data suggest beneficial outcomes for cancer patients undergoing gas plasma therapy.

Conclusions:

• Medical gas plasma therapy presents a promising avenue for cancer treatment, leveraging unique ROS/RNS.
• Its ability to induce immunogenic cell death offers novel strategies to enhance immunotherapy.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand and optimize gas plasma onco-therapy's clinical applications.