Low-Temperature Plasma Treatment: A Promising Approach for Colorectal Cancer Therapy

A Revolutionary Approach: Low-Temperature Plasma Treatment for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer remains a significant health concern, ranking as the third most prevalent cancer in both men and women and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Traditional therapies often grapple with the problem of drug-resistant cancer cells, making the development of alternative strategies a necessity. One such promising approach is the use of low-temperature plasma treatment, which has demonstrated significant clinical implications in eliminating microsatellite unstable tumor cells in colorectal cancer.

The Science Behind the Treatment

The treatment involves the modulation of the altered state of MMR-related proteins' expression, leading to MMR stabilization and enhanced antitumor response. The therapy leverages Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) technology, a type of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), and is meticulously carried out on various colorectal cancer cell lines. The research provides valuable insights into plasma determination, gas-phase plasma, and reactive oxides and nitrogen species generated by the treatment. The study's extensive experiments on cytotoxicity, apoptosis analysis, Western blotting, and PCR for gene expression analysis underscore the statistical significance and reproducibility of the results.

Stabilizing Mismatch Repair for Uniform Treatment

A critical aspect of this innovative treatment is its potential to stabilize mismatch repair (MMR), thereby enabling a more effective uniform treatment of diverse colorectal cancer cell types. CAP treatment has shown to enhance apoptotic signaling and induce apoptosis in MSI colorectal cancer cells by upregulating the expression of MMR-related proteins. This process reinforces MMR stabilization, thus improving the overall effectiveness of the treatment. The use of CAP as an oncotherapeutic tool also addresses the challenges posed by MSI colorectal cancer and proposes potential therapeutic interventions.

Integrating Various Therapies for Increased Effectiveness

Another noteworthy aspect of this research is the proposed combination of chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and chemotherapy (CT) for colorectal cancer treatment. These therapies, when used synergistically, promise to enhance the effectiveness of anticancer treatment, offering a potential clinical application for colorectal cancer. Additionally, the potential clinical availability of RSL3, a key component in triggering ferroptosis in lung cancer cells, and the feasibility of combining non-thermal plasma (NTP) with clinical therapeutic strategies further expand the possibilities of cancer treatment.

Noninvasive Detection and Monitoring

Low-temperature plasma treatment holds promise not just as a therapeutic measure but also as a noninvasive method for detection, monitoring, and patient management. The analysis of circulating nucleic acids in the blood, such as DNA, cfDNA, ctDNA, RNA, cfRNA, and ctRNA, provides valuable noninvasive biomarkers for molecular profiling, screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of colorectal cancer. The ability to detect minimal residual disease and the improvements in finding circulating tumor markers in blood make this a popular choice among both patients and doctors.

The Versatility of Plasma Treatment

While the focus of this research is on colorectal cancer, the applicability of plasma treatment extends beyond this. It has been found to enhance N fertilizer performance, improve food safety, quality, and shelf life, and even stimulate aged seed germination. Additionally, plasma atomic layer etching processes have been developed using low global warming potential gases, underscoring the versatility of this innovative technology.

Conclusion

The research on low-temperature plasma treatment for colorectal cancer presents a significant stride forward in cancer therapy. The potential of this treatment to address drug-resistant colorectal cancer cells, combined with its noninvasive nature and versatility, warrants further investigations and clinical trials. The journey towards a cure for colorectal cancer is a challenging one, but with innovative approaches like these, the future looks promising.