Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Cancer Treatment: Molecular and Immunological Mechanisms

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been proved a type of novel and effective anticancer method. However, a current problem lies in the complexity of cancer using the CAP treatment because of the different types and developments of cancers, resulting in the necessity of in-depth investigations on underlying mechanisms. This review will introduce a variety of mechanisms behind the CAP cancer treatment, including apoptosis-related signaling pathways, the ROS/RNS-based “bystander effect,” ferroptosis regulation for lipid peroxidation, genetically DNA damage and cell cycle arrest, amino acid structural modification, calreticulin (CRT) exposure and immune cell maturation, and necrosis. Despite the listed diverse mechanisms, drawbacks and future prospects of CAP treatment are discussed for more in-depth thinking. This review will be of great interest for understanding the current state of the art of cancer treatment of plasma.