Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor, and its first line of treatment presents a high failure rate. The 5-year survival for children and teenagers with osteosarcoma is 70% (if diagnosed before it has metastasized) or 20% (if spread at the time of diagnosis), stressing the need for novel therapies. Recently, cold atmospheric plasmas (ionized gases consisting of UV–Vis radiation, electromagnetic fields and a great variety of reactive species) and plasma-treated liquids have been shown to have the potential to selectively eliminate cancer cells in different tumors through an oxidative stress-dependent mechanism. In this work, we review the current state of the art in cold plasma therapy for osteosarcoma. Specifically, we emphasize the mechanisms unveiled thus far regarding the action of plasmas on osteosarcoma. Finally, we review current and potential future approaches, emphasizing the most critical challenges for the development of osteosarcoma therapies based on this emerging technique.
Highlights
The widest body of research is focused on either immunotherapy, i.e., the stimulation and/or use of components of the immune system to increase the immune response against cancer cells, or on targeted therapies based on the use of different kinds of inhibitors of critical proto-oncogenes (Table 1)
reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in the form of hydrogels is currently under investigation. These biomaterials have been demonstrated to be suitable vehicles for controlled drug release, so this is being approached in Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) therapies by using injectable polymeric hydrogel solutions that are able to cross-link in vivo, opening the door to local and controlled delivery of RONS to the tumor site (Figure 3B) [108,109,110,111]
There is not yet enough evidence to unravel the molecular mechanisms associated with the oxidative stress induced by CAP in OS cancer cells, as the few reports related to cell signaling by CAP in other kinds of cancers propose the same cell signaling as that affected by the classical oxidative stress therapies [43,46,177,178,179]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of primary solid tumor originating in bone. In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of studies reporting the in vitro efficiency of CAP in OS In this context, the aim of this review is to comprehensively compile the existing literature in the field and to discuss whether CAP application could be considered to treat this disease. The aim of this review is to comprehensively compile the existing literature in the field and to discuss whether CAP application could be considered to treat this disease For this purpose, we consider the current challenges in proposing an effective therapy for OS, highlighting its possible impact along with the different malignant features of this kind of cancer, and we discuss future developments that will allow this therapy to advance
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
