Plasma-activated Ringer’s Lactate Solution Displays a Selective Cytotoxic Effect on Ovarian Cancer Cells

Abstract

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women and is characterized by the diffusion of nodules or plaques from the ovary to the peritoneal surfaces. Conventional therapeutic options cannot eradicate the disease and show low efficacy against resistant tumor subclones. The treatment of liquids via cold atmospheric pressure plasma enables the production of plasma-activated liquids (PALs) containing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) with selective anticancer activity. Thus, the delivery of RONS to cancer tissues by intraperitoneal washing with PALs might be an innovative strategy for the treatment of EOC. In this work, plasma-activated Ringer’s Lactate solution (PA-RL) was produced by exposing a liquid substrate to a multiwire plasma source. Subsequently, PA-RL dilutions are used for the treatment of EOC, non-cancer and fibroblast cell lines, revealing a selectivity of PA-RL, which induces a significantly higher cytotoxic effect in EOC with respect to non-cancer cells.

Differential Effect of Non-Thermal Plasma RONS on Two Human Leukemic Cell Populations

“…This is partially because the cellular responses occur independently of the plasma source used [ 10 ]. Because plasma-conditioned liquids produce similar changes in cancer cells as observed in vitro and in vivo after direct treatment by NTP, some effects attributed to NTP may be exclusively chemically triggered [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Although the compositions of NTP produced by different plasma-generating devices are comprised of different mixtures of physical and chemical effectors, the operating parameters of most devices can be optimized to achieve similar biological outcomes in target cells, suggesting common mechanisms of action [ 7 ].…”

The Plasma-Induced Leukemia Cell Death is Dictated by the ROS Chemistry and the HO-1/CXCL8 Axis

“…Besides its documented antimicrobial and stimulating effects in skin cells [2,3], emerging evidence in the last decade also pointed to a potent tumor-toxicity with extended plasma treatment [4,5]. To date, plasma exposure was shown to inactivate cancer cells of various origins, including the pancreas [6][7][8], leukemia [9][10][11], breast [12][13][14], ovarian [15][16][17], colon [18][19][20], skin [21][22][23], head and neck [24][25][26], and the brain [27][28][29]. First patients suffering from stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma have benefited from plasma therapy in a palliative setting [30][31][32].…”

Plasma in Cancer Treatment

“…This Special Issue on “Plasma in Cancer Treatment” brings together 16 original research papers [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ] and two insightful reviews [ 24 , 25 ]. The papers published in the Special Issue provide valuable information regarding the efficacy of CAP against osteosarcoma, glioblastoma, cholangiocarcinoma, melanoma, pancreatic, ovarian, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer.…”

“…In addition, the use of non-thermally operated electrosurgical argon plasma devices for cancer therapy has been explored [ 15 , 16 ], which presents an opportunity to use existing devices for cancer treatment. Three reports have used plasma-treated Ringer’s saline and phosphate buffered-saline (PBS) solutions with anticancer properties, supporting the potential of this alternative treatment modality [ 18 , 20 , 21 ]. Two review papers complete this Special Issue.…”