1
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Golz AC, Bergemann C, Hildebrandt F, Emmert S, Nebe B, Rebl H. Selective adhesion inhibition and hyaluronan envelope reduction of dermal tumor cells by cold plasma-activated medium. Cell Adh Migr 2023; 17:1-19. [PMID: 37743639 PMCID: PMC10521339 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2023.2260642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The sensitivity to cold plasma is specific to tumor cells while leaving normal tissue cells unaffected. This is the desired challenge in cancer therapy. Therefore, the focus of this work was a comparative study concerning the plasma sensitivity of dermal tumor cells (A-431) versus non-tumorigenic dermal cells (HaCaT) regarding their adhesion capacity. We found a selective inhibiting effect of plasma-activated medium on the adhesion of tumor cells while hardly affecting normal cells. We attributed this to a lower basal gene expression for the adhesion-relevant components CD44, hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), HAS3, and the hyaluronidases in A431. Noteworthy, after plasma exposure, we revealed a significantly higher expression and synthesis of the hyaluronan envelope, the HAS3 gene, and the transmembrane adhesion receptors in non-tumorigenic HaCaTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Christin Golz
- Department of Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Claudia Bergemann
- Department of Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Finja Hildebrandt
- Department of Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Steffen Emmert
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Venerology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Barbara Nebe
- Department of Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Henrike Rebl
- Department of Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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2
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Berner J, Miebach L, Herold L, Höft H, Gerling T, Mattern P, Bekeschus S. Gas Flow Shaping via Novel Modular Nozzle System (MoNoS) Augments kINPen-Mediated Toxicity and Immunogenicity in Tumor Organoids. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041254. [PMID: 36831596 PMCID: PMC9953918 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Medical gas plasma is an experimental technology for anticancer therapy. Here, partial gas ionization yielded reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, placing the technique at the heart of applied redox biomedicine. Especially with the gas plasma jet kINPen, anti-tumor efficacy was demonstrated. This study aimed to examine the potential of using passive flow shaping to enhance the medical benefits of atmospheric plasma jets (APPJ). We used an in-house developed, proprietary Modular Nozzle System (MoNoS; patent-pending) to modify the flow properties of a kINPen. MoNoS increased the nominal plasma jet-derived reactive species deposition area and stabilized the air-plasma ratio within the active plasma zone while shielding it from external flow disturbances or gas impurities. At modest flow rates, dynamic pressure reduction (DPR) adapters did not augment reactive species deposition in liquids or tumor cell killing. However, MoNoS operated at kINPen standard argon fluxes significantly improved cancer organoid growth reduction and increased tumor immunogenicity, as seen by elevated calreticulin and heat-shock protein expression, along with a significantly spurred cytokine secretion profile. Moreover, the safe application of MoNoS gas plasma jet adapters was confirmed by their similar-to-superior safety profiles assessed in the hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) coagulation and scar formation irritation assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Berner
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Luise Herold
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans Höft
- Department of Plasma Diagnostics, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Torsten Gerling
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Diabetes Competence Centre Karlsburg (KDK), Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswalder Straße 11, 17495 Karlsburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Mattern
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Diabetes Competence Centre Karlsburg (KDK), Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswalder Straße 11, 17495 Karlsburg, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-3834-554-3948
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3
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Dai X, Zhu K. Cold atmospheric plasma: Novel opportunities for tumor microenvironment targeting. Cancer Med 2023; 12:7189-7206. [PMID: 36762766 PMCID: PMC10067048 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
With mounting preclinical and clinical evidences on the prominent roles of the tumor microenvironment (TME) played during carcinogenesis, the TME has been recognized and used as an important onco-therapeutic target during the past decade. Delineating our current knowledge on TME components and their functionalities can help us recognize novel onco-therapeutic opportunities and establish treatment modalities towards desirable anti-cancer outcome. By identifying and focusing on primary cellular components in the TME, that is, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, tumor-associated macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells, we decomposed their primary functionalities during carcinogenesis, categorized current therapeutic approaches utilizing traits of these components, and forecasted possible benefits that cold atmospheric plasma, a redox modulating tool with selectivity against cancer cells, may convey by targeting the TME. Our insights may open a novel therapeutic avenue for cancer control taking advantages of redox homeostasis and immunostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Kaiyuan Zhu
- Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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4
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Miebach L, Mohamed H, Wende K, Miller V, Bekeschus S. Pancreatic Cancer Cells Undergo Immunogenic Cell Death upon Exposure to Gas Plasma-Oxidized Ringers Lactate. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15010319. [PMID: 36612315 PMCID: PMC9818580 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Survival rates among patients with pancreatic cancer, the most lethal gastrointestinal cancer, have not improved compared to other malignancies. Early tumor dissemination and a supportive, cancer-promoting tumor microenvironment (TME) limit therapeutic options and consequently impede tumor remission, outlining an acute need for effective treatments. Gas plasma-oxidized liquid treatment showed promising preclinical results in other gastrointestinal and gynecological tumors by targeting the tumor redox state. Here, carrier solutions are enriched with reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species that can cause oxidative distress in tumor cells, leading to a broad range of anti-tumor effects. Unfortunately, clinical relevance is often limited, as many studies have forgone the use of medical-grade solutions. This study investigated the efficacy of gas plasma-oxidized Ringer's lactate (oxRilac), a physiological solution often used in clinical practice, on two pancreatic cancer cell lines to induce tumor toxicity and provoke immunogenicity. Tumor toxicity of the oxRilac solutions was further confirmed in three-dimensional tumor spheroids monitored over 72 h and in ovo using stereomicroscope imaging of excised GFP-expressing tumors. We demonstrated that cell death signaling was induced in a dose-dependent fashion in both cell lines and was paralleled by the increased surface expression of key markers of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis suggested putative reaction pathways that may cause the non-ROS related effects. In summary, our study suggests gas plasma-deposited ROS in clinically relevant liquids as an additive option for treating pancreatic cancers via immune-stimulating and cytotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Miebach
- Department of General, Thoraxic, Vascular, and Visceral Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hager Mohamed
- Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Kristian Wende
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Vandana Miller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Correspondence:
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5
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da Silva Brito WA, Singer D, Miebach L, Saadati F, Wende K, Schmidt A, Bekeschus S. Comprehensive in vitro polymer type, concentration, and size correlation analysis to microplastic toxicity and inflammation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 854:158731. [PMID: 36108827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous nature of microplastic particles (MP) is a growing environmental and ecological concern due to their impact on aquatic and terrestrial systems and potentially on human health. The potential impact on human health may be due to MP daily exposure by several routes, but little is known about the cellular effects. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have described inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disruption upon plastic exposure, while the effect of individual plastic parameters is not fully unraveled. To this end, we investigated plastic exposure to different polymer types, sizes, and concentrations in three human cell lines (A549, HEK293, and HeLa). Particles were polystyrene (PS) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in three sizes and concentrations, and amine-modified PS served as positive control. After MP size validation using dynamic light scattering, a high-throughput high-content imaging-based and algorithm-driven multi-z-stack analysis was established to quantify intracellular fluorescent particle accumulation in 3D objects and cell maximum intensity projections. MP uptake correlated with concentration and for PS with size (1.040 μm), while for PMMA it was maximal for 400 nm MP. Uptake increased in HEK cells independent of MP parameters. Except for positive controls, no major effect on metabolic activity, viability, and cell cycle was observed, while intracellular thiol content and cytokine secretion were affected to a considerable extent. Interestingly, particle uptake was correlated significantly with particle size and concentration, underlining the dependence of MP parameters on biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walison Augusto da Silva Brito
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Department of General Pathology, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Debora Singer
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular, and Visceral Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fariba Saadati
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Rostock University Medical Center, Strempelstr. 13, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Kristian Wende
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anke Schmidt
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.
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6
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Miebach L, Berner J, Bekeschus S. In ovo model in cancer research and tumor immunology. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1006064. [PMID: 36248802 PMCID: PMC9556724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1006064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Considering cancer not only as malignant cells on their own but as a complex disease in which tumor cells interact and communicate with their microenvironment has motivated the establishment of clinically relevant 3D models in past years. Technological advances gave rise to novel bioengineered models, improved organoid systems, and microfabrication approaches, increasing scientific importance in preclinical research. Notwithstanding, mammalian in vivo models remain closest to mimic the patient’s situation but are limited by cost, time, and ethical constraints. Herein, the in ovo model bridges the gap as an advanced model for basic and translational cancer research without the need for ethical approval. With the avian embryo being a naturally immunodeficient host, tumor cells and primary tissues can be engrafted on the vascularized chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) with high efficiencies regardless of species-specific restrictions. The extraembryonic membranes are connected to the embryo through a continuous circulatory system, readily accessible for manipulation or longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and matrix remodeling. However, its applicability in immunoncological research is largely underexplored. Dual engrafting of malignant and immune cells could provide a platform to study tumor-immune cell interactions in a complex, heterogenic and dynamic microenvironment with high reproducibility. With some caveats to keep in mind, versatile methods for in and ex ovo monitoring of cellular and molecular dynamics already established in ovo are applicable alike. In this view, the present review aims to emphasize and discuss opportunities and limitations of the chicken embryo model for pre-clinical research in cancer and cancer immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
- Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular, and Visceral Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Julia Berner
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
- Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular, and Visceral Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
- Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular, and Visceral Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Greifswald, Germany
- *Correspondence: Sander Bekeschus,
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7
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Kumar Dubey S, Dabholkar N, Narayan Pal U, Singhvi G, Kumar Sharma N, Puri A, Kesharwani P. Emerging innovations in cold plasma therapy against cancer: A paradigm shift. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:2425-2439. [PMID: 35598703 PMCID: PMC9420777 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major causes of mortality, accounting for ∼ 9.5 million deaths globally in 2018. The spectrum of conventional treatment for cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Recently, cold plasma therapy surfaced as a novel technique in the treatment of cancer. The FDA approval of the first trial for the use of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in cancer therapy in 2019 is evidence of this. This review highlights the mechanisms of action of CAP. Additionally, its applications in anticancer therapy have been reviewed. In summary, this article will introduce the readers to the exciting field of plasma oncology and help them understand the current status and prospects of plasma oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Dubey
- R&D Healthcare Division, Emami, 13 BT Road, Belgharia, Kolkata 700056, India.
| | - Neha Dabholkar
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan 333031, India
| | - Udit Narayan Pal
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), Pilani, Rajasthan 333031, India
| | - Gautam Singhvi
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan 333031, India
| | - Navin Kumar Sharma
- School of Physics, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452001, India
| | - Anu Puri
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory (RBL), Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute - Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Prashant Kesharwani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India.
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8
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Dai X, Ye Y, He F. Emerging innovations on exosome-based onco-therapeutics. Front Immunol 2022; 13:865245. [PMID: 36119094 PMCID: PMC9473149 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.865245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles for intercellular communications, are gaining rapid momentum as a novel strategy for the diagnosis and therapeutics of a spectrum of diseases including cancers. Secreted by various cell sources, exosomes pertain numerous functionalities from their parental cells and have enhanced stability that enable them with many features favorable for clinical use and commercialization. This paper focuses on the possible roles of exosomes in cancer therapeutics and reviews current exosome-based innovations toward enhanced cancer management and challenges that limit their clinical translation. Importantly, this paper casts insights on how cold atmospheric plasma, an emerging anticancer strategy, may aid in innovations on exosome-based onco-therapeutics toward improved control over cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- CAPsoul Medical Biotechnology Company, Ltd., Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fule He, ; Yongju Ye,
| | - Yongju Ye
- Department of Gynaecology, Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lishui, China
- *Correspondence: Fule He, ; Yongju Ye,
| | - Fule He
- Department of Gynaecology, Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lishui, China
- *Correspondence: Fule He, ; Yongju Ye,
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9
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Gelbrich N, Miebach L, Berner J, Freund E, Saadati F, Schmidt A, Stope M, Zimmermann U, Burchardt M, Bekeschus S. Non-invasive medical gas plasma augments bladder cancer cell toxicity in preclinical models and patient-derived tumor tissues. J Adv Res 2022; 47:209-223. [PMID: 35931323 PMCID: PMC10173201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medical gas plasma therapy has been successfully applied to several types of cancer in preclinical models. First palliative tumor patients suffering from advanced head and neck cancer benefited from this novel therapeutic modality. The gas plasma-induced biological effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) generated in the plasma gas phase result in oxidation-induced lethal damage to tumor cells. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to verify these anti-tumor effects of gas plasma exposure on urinary bladder cancer. METHODS 2D cell culture models, 3D tumor spheroids, 3D vascularized tumors grown on the chicken chorion-allantois-membrane (CAM) in ovo, and patient-derived primary cancer tissue gas plasma-treated ex vivo were used. RESULTS Gas plasma treatment led to oxidation, growth retardation, motility inhibition, and cell death in 2D and 3D tumor models. A marked decline in tumor growth was also observed in the tumors grown in ovo. In addition, results of gas plasma treatment on primary urothelial carcinoma tissues ex vivo highlighted the selective tumor-toxic effects as non-malignant tissue exposed to gas plasma was less affected. Whole-transcriptome gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of tumor-promoting fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) accompanied by upregulation of apoptosis-inducing factor 2 (AIFm2), which plays a central role in caspase-independent cell death signaling. CONCLUSION Gas plasma treatment induced cytotoxicity in patient-derived cancer tissue and slowed tumor growth in an organoid model of urinary bladder carcinoma, along with less severe effects in non-malignant tissues. Studies on the potential clinical benefits of this local and safe ROS therapy are awaited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Gelbrich
- Clinic and Policlinic for Urology, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Clinic and Policlinic for General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Julia Berner
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Clinic and Policlinic for Oral, Maxillofacial, and Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Clinic and Policlinic for General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fariba Saadati
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Clinic and Policlinic of Dermatology and Venerology, Rostock University Medical Center, Stempelstr. 13, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Anke Schmidt
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Stope
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Uwe Zimmermann
- Clinic and Policlinic for Urology, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Burchardt
- Clinic and Policlinic for Urology, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.
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10
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Dai X, Li J, Chen Y, Ostrikov KK. When Onco-Immunotherapy Meets Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Implications on CAR-T Therapies. Front Oncol 2022; 12:837995. [PMID: 35280746 PMCID: PMC8905244 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.837995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) have demonstrated its widespread efficacy as a targeted immunotherapeutic modality. Yet, concerns on its specificity, efficacy and generalization prevented it from being established into a first-line approach against cancers. By reviewing challenges limiting its clinical application, ongoing efforts trying to resolve them, and opportunities that emerging oncotherapeutic modalities may bring to temper these challenges, we conclude that careful CAR design should be done to avoid the off-tumor effect, enhance the efficacy of solid tumor treatment, improve product comparability, and resolve problems such as differential efficacies of co-stimulatory molecules, cytokine storm, tumor lysis syndrome, myelosuppression and severe hepatotoxicity. As a promising solution, we propose potential synergies between CAR-T therapies and cold atmospheric plasma, an emerging onco-therapeutic strategy relying on reactive species, towards improved therapeutic efficacies and enhanced safety that deserve extensive investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.,CAPsoul Biotechnology Company, Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Jitian Li
- Henan Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital)/Henan Provincial Orthopedic Institute, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiming Chen
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Kostya Ken Ostrikov
- School of Chemistry and Physics and Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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11
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Miebach L, Freund E, Clemen R, Weltmann KD, Metelmann HR, von Woedtke T, Gerling T, Wende K, Bekeschus S. Conductivity augments ROS and RNS delivery and tumor toxicity of an argon plasma jet. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 180:210-219. [PMID: 35065239 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Gas plasma jet technology was recently identified as a potential adjuvant in the palliation of cancer patients. However, a practical point raised is if higher therapeutic efficacy is achieved with the gas plasma applied in direct contact to the tumor tissue (conducting) or during treatment with the remote cloud of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) being expelled. In a bedside-to-bench study, this clinical question was translated into studying these two distinct treatment modalities using a three-dimensional tumor cell-matrix-hydrogel assay with subsequent quantitative confocal imaging. Z-resolved fluorescence analysis of two cancer cell lines revealed greater toxicity of the conducting mode. This result was re-iterated in the growth analysis of vascularized tumor tissue cultured on chicken embryos' CAM using in ovo bioluminescence imaging. Furthermore, for conducting compared to free mode, optical emission spectroscopy revealed stronger RNS signal lines in the gas phase, while both ROS/RNS deposition in the liquid was drastically exacerbated in the conducting mode. Altogether, our results are vital in understanding the importance of standardized treatment distances on the therapeutic efficacy of gas plasma exposure in clinical oncology and will help to give critical implications for clinicians involved in plasma onco-therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany; Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany; Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ramona Clemen
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans-Robert Metelmann
- Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas von Woedtke
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany; Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Torsten Gerling
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kristian Wende
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), a Member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
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Privat-Maldonado A, Verloy R, Cardenas Delahoz E, Lin A, Vanlanduit S, Smits E, Bogaerts A. Cold Atmospheric Plasma Does Not Affect Stellate Cells Phenotype in Pancreatic Cancer Tissue in Ovo. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23041954. [PMID: 35216069 PMCID: PMC8878510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23041954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging neoplastic disease, mainly due to the development of resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is an alternative technology that can eliminate cancer cells through oxidative damage, as shown in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. However, how CAP affects the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), key players in the invasion and metastasis of PDAC, is poorly understood. This study aims to determine the effect of an anti-PDAC CAP treatment on PSCs tissue developed in ovo using mono- and co-cultures of RLT-PSC (PSCs) and Mia PaCa-2 cells (PDAC). We measured tissue reduction upon CAP treatment and mRNA expression of PSC activation markers and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling factors via qRT-PCR. Protein expression of selected markers was confirmed via immunohistochemistry. CAP inhibited growth in Mia PaCa-2 and co-cultured tissue, but its effectiveness was reduced in the latter, which correlates with reduced ki67 levels. CAP did not alter the mRNA expression of PSC activation and ECM remodelling markers. No changes in MMP2 and MMP9 expression were observed in RLT-PSCs, but small changes were observed in Mia PaCa-2 cells. Our findings support the ability of CAP to eliminate PDAC cells, without altering the PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Privat-Maldonado
- PLASMANT, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (R.V.); (A.L.); (A.B.)
- Solid Tumor Immunology Group, Center for Oncological Research, Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network, Department of Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-3265-25-76
| | - Ruben Verloy
- PLASMANT, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (R.V.); (A.L.); (A.B.)
- Solid Tumor Immunology Group, Center for Oncological Research, Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network, Department of Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Edgar Cardenas Delahoz
- Industrial Vision Lab InViLab, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.C.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Abraham Lin
- PLASMANT, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (R.V.); (A.L.); (A.B.)
- Solid Tumor Immunology Group, Center for Oncological Research, Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network, Department of Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Steve Vanlanduit
- Industrial Vision Lab InViLab, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.C.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Evelien Smits
- Solid Tumor Immunology Group, Center for Oncological Research, Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network, Department of Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Annemie Bogaerts
- PLASMANT, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (R.V.); (A.L.); (A.B.)
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13
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Cold Physical Plasma in Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Signaling, and Immunity. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9916796. [PMID: 35284036 PMCID: PMC8906949 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9916796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in therapy, cancer still is a devastating and life-threatening disease, motivating novel research lines in oncology. Cold physical plasma, a partially ionized gas, is a new modality in cancer research. Physical plasma produces various physicochemical factors, primarily reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), causing cancer cell death when supplied at supraphysiological concentrations. This review outlines the biomedical consequences of plasma treatment in experimental cancer therapy, including cell death modalities. It also summarizes current knowledge on intracellular signaling pathways triggered by plasma treatment to induce cancer cell death. Besides the inactivation of tumor cells, an equally important aspect is the inflammatory context in which cell death occurs to suppress or promote the responses of immune cells. This is mainly governed by the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to provoke immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD) that, in turn, activates cells of the innate immune system to promote adaptive antitumor immunity. The pivotal role of the immune system in cancer treatment, in general, is highlighted by many clinical trials and success stories on using checkpoint immunotherapy. Hence, the potential of plasma treatment to induce ICD in tumor cells to promote immunity targeting cancer lesions systemically is also discussed.
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14
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Freund E, Bekeschus S. Gas Plasma-Oxidized Liquids for Cancer Treatment: Preclinical Relevance, Immuno-Oncology, and Clinical Obstacles. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON RADIATION AND PLASMA MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/trpms.2020.3029982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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15
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Khabipov A, Freund E, Liedtke KR, Käding A, Riese J, van der Linde J, Kersting S, Partecke LI, Bekeschus S. Murine Macrophages Modulate Their Inflammatory Profile in Response to Gas Plasma-Inactivated Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2525. [PMID: 34064000 PMCID: PMC8196763 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages and immuno-modulation play a dominant role in the pathology of pancreatic cancer. Gas plasma is a technology recently suggested to demonstrate anticancer efficacy. To this end, two murine cell lines were employed to analyze the inflammatory consequences of plasma-treated pancreatic cancer cells (PDA) on macrophages using the kINPen plasma jet. Plasma treatment decreased the metabolic activity, viability, and migratory activity in an ROS- and treatment time-dependent manner in PDA cells in vitro. These results were confirmed in pancreatic tumors grown on chicken embryos in the TUM-CAM model (in ovo). PDA cells promote tumor-supporting M2 macrophage polarization and cluster formation. Plasma treatment of PDA cells abrogated this cluster formation with a mixed M1/M2 phenotype observed in such co-cultured macrophages. Multiplex chemokine and cytokine quantification showed a marked decrease of the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL1, IL6, and the tumor growth supporting TGFβ and VEGF in plasma-treated compared to untreated co-culture settings. At the same time, macrophage-attractant CCL4 and MCP1 release were profoundly enhanced. These cellular and secretome data suggest that the plasma-inactivated PDA6606 cells modulate the inflammatory profile of murine RAW 264.7 macrophages favorably, which may support plasma cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aydar Khabipov
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kim Rouven Liedtke
- Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Schleswig-Holstein University Medical Center, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Andre Käding
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
| | - Janik Riese
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
| | - Julia van der Linde
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
| | - Stephan Kersting
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
| | - Lars-Ivo Partecke
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (A.K.); (E.F.); (A.K.); (J.R.); (J.v.d.L.); (S.K.); (L.-I.P.)
- Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, Schleswig Helios Medical Center, St. Jürgener Str. 1-3, 24837 Schleswig, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
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16
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Antitumor Effects in Gas Plasma-Treated Patient-Derived Microtissues—An Adjuvant Therapy for Ulcerating Breast Cancer? APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11104527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite global research and continuous improvement in therapy, cancer remains a challenging disease globally, substantiating the need for new treatment avenues. Medical gas plasma technology has emerged as a promising approach in oncology in the last years. Several investigations have provided evidence of an antitumor action in vitro and in vivo, including our recent work on plasma-mediated reduction of breast cancer in mice. However, studies of gas plasma exposure on patient-derived tumors with their distinct microenvironment (TME) are scarce. To this end, we here investigated patient-derived breast cancer tissue after gas plasma-treated ex vivo. The tissues were disjoint to pieces smaller than 100 µm, embedded in collagen, and incubated for several days. The viability of the breast cancer tissue clusters and their outgrowth into their gel microenvironment declined with plasma treatment. This was associated with caspase 3-dependent apoptotic cell death, paralleled by an increased expression of the anti-metastatic adhesion molecule epithelial (E)-cadherin. Multiplex chemokine/cytokine analysis revealed a marked decline in the release of the interleukins 6 and 8 (IL-6, IL-8) and monocyte-chemoattractant-protein 1 (MCP) known to promote a cancer-promoting milieu in the TME. In summary, we provide here, for the first time, evidence of a beneficial activity of gas plasma exposure on human patient-derived breast cancer tissue.
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17
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Evaluation of the effects of cold atmospheric plasma and plasma-treated liquids in cancer cell cultures. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:2826-2850. [PMID: 33990800 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00521-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a potential anticancer therapy. CAP has cytotoxic effects when applied either directly to cancer cell cultures or indirectly through plasma-conditioned liquids. This protocol describes how to treat adherent cultures of human cancer cell lines with CAP or plasma-conditioned medium and determine cell viability following treatment. The protocol also includes details on how to quantify the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species present in medium following CAP treatment, using chemical probes using UV-visible or fluorescence spectroscopy. CAP treatment takes ~30 min, and 3 h are required to complete quantification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. By providing a standardized protocol for evaluation of the effects of CAP and plasma-conditioned medium, we hope to facilitate the comparison and interpretation of results seen across different laboratories.
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18
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Bengtson C, Bogaerts A. The Quest to Quantify Selective and Synergistic Effects of Plasma for Cancer Treatment: Insights from Mathematical Modeling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22095033. [PMID: 34068601 PMCID: PMC8126141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and plasma-treated liquids (PTLs) have recently become a promising option for cancer treatment, but the underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect are still to a large extent unknown. Although hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been recognized as the major anti-cancer agent of PTL and may enable selectivity in a certain concentration regime, the co-existence of nitrite can create a synergistic effect. We develop a mathematical model to describe the key species and features of the cellular response toward PTL. From the numerical solutions, we define a number of dependent variables, which represent feasible measures to quantify cell susceptibility in terms of the H2O2 membrane diffusion rate constant and the intracellular catalase concentration. For each of these dependent variables, we investigate the regimes of selective versus non-selective, and of synergistic versus non-synergistic effect to evaluate their potential role as a measure of cell susceptibility. Our results suggest that the maximal intracellular H2O2 concentration, which in the selective regime is almost four times greater for the most susceptible cells compared to the most resistant cells, could be used to quantify the cell susceptibility toward exogenous H2O2. We believe our theoretical approach brings novelty to the field of plasma oncology, and more broadly, to the field of redox biology, by proposing new ways to quantify the selective and synergistic anti-cancer effect of PTL in terms of inherent cell features.
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19
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Bekeschus S, Clemen R, Haralambiev L, Niessner F, Grabarczyk P, Weltmann KD, Menz J, Stope M, von Woedtke T, Gandhirajan R, Schmidt A. The Plasma-Induced Leukemia Cell Death is Dictated by the ROS Chemistry and the HO-1/CXCL8 Axis. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON RADIATION AND PLASMA MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/trpms.2020.3020686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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20
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Miebach L, Freund E, Horn S, Niessner F, Sagwal SK, von Woedtke T, Emmert S, Weltmann KD, Clemen R, Schmidt A, Gerling T, Bekeschus S. Tumor cytotoxicity and immunogenicity of a novel V-jet neon plasma source compared to the kINPen. Sci Rep 2021; 11:136. [PMID: 33420228 PMCID: PMC7794240 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80512-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research indicated the potential of cold physical plasma in cancer therapy. The plethora of plasma-derived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) mediate diverse antitumor effects after eliciting oxidative stress in cancer cells. We aimed at exploiting this principle using a newly designed dual-jet neon plasma source (Vjet) to treat colorectal cancer cells. A treatment time-dependent ROS/RNS generation induced oxidation, growth retardation, and cell death within 3D tumor spheroids were found. In TUM-CAM, a semi in vivo model, the Vjet markedly reduced vascularized tumors' growth, but an increase of tumor cell immunogenicity or uptake by dendritic cells was not observed. By comparison, the argon-driven single jet kINPen, known to mediate anticancer effects in vitro, in vivo, and in patients, generated less ROS/RNS and terminal cell death in spheroids. In the TUM-CAM model, however, the kINPen was equivalently effective and induced a stronger expression of immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD) markers, leading to increased phagocytosis of kINPen but not Vjet plasma-treated tumor cells by dendritic cells. Moreover, the Vjet was characterized according to the requirements of the DIN-SPEC 91315. Our results highlight the plasma device-specific action on cancer cells for evaluating optimal discharges for plasma cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Horn
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Felix Niessner
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Sagwal
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas von Woedtke
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.,Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Steffen Emmert
- Clinic for Dermatology and Venereology, Rostock University Medical Center, Strempelstr. 13, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ramona Clemen
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anke Schmidt
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Torsten Gerling
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
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21
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Bruno G, Wenske S, Lackmann JW, Lalk M, von Woedtke T, Wende K. On the Liquid Chemistry of the Reactive Nitrogen Species Peroxynitrite and Nitrogen Dioxide Generated by Physical Plasmas. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1687. [PMID: 33339444 PMCID: PMC7766045 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold physical plasmas modulate cellular redox signaling processes, leading to the evolution of a number of clinical applications in recent years. They are a source of small reactive species, including reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Wound healing is a major application and, as its physiology involves RNS signaling, a correlation between clinical effectiveness and the activity of plasma-derived RNS seems evident. To investigate the type and reactivity of plasma-derived RNS in aqueous systems, a model with tyrosine as a tracer was utilized. By high-resolution mass spectrometry, 26 different tyrosine derivatives including the physiologic nitrotyrosine were identified. The product pattern was distinctive in terms of plasma parameters, especially gas phase composition. By scavenger experiments and isotopic labelling, gaseous nitric dioxide radicals and liquid phase peroxynitrite ions were determined as dominant RNS. The presence of water molecules in the active plasma favored the generation of peroxynitrite. A pilot study, identifying RNS driven post-translational modifications of proteins in healing human wounds after the treatment with cold plasma (kINPen), demonstrated the presence of in vitro determined chemical pathways. The plasma-driven nitration and nitrosylation of tyrosine allows the conclusion that covalent modification of biomolecules by RNS contributes to the clinically observed impact of cold plasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Bruno
- Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) Plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (G.B.); (S.W.)
| | - Sebastian Wenske
- Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) Plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (G.B.); (S.W.)
| | - Jan-Wilm Lackmann
- Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Michael Lalk
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Thomas von Woedtke
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Kristian Wende
- Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) Plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (G.B.); (S.W.)
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22
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Physical Plasma-Treated Skin Cancer Cells Amplify Tumor Cytotoxicity of Human Natural Killer (NK) Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123575. [PMID: 33265951 PMCID: PMC7761052 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Natural killer (NK)-cells are known to have antitumor potential. Cold physical plasma generates ROS exogenously to be utilized as a novel anticancer agent, especially in skin cancer. However, it is unknown whether plasma-treated skin cancer cells promote or inhibit NK-cell-mediated toxicity. To this end, we analyzed NK-cell-activating receptors on plasma-treated skin cancer cells and demonstrated an enhanced NK-cell activity augmenting tumor cell death upon plasma treatment. Abstract Skin cancers have the highest prevalence of all human cancers, with the most lethal forms being squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Besides the conventional local treatment approaches like surgery and radiotherapy, cold physical plasmas are emerging anticancer tools. Plasma technology is used as a therapeutic agent by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Evidence shows that inflammation and adaptive immunity are involved in cancer-reducing effects of plasma treatment, but the role of innate immune cells is still unclear. Natural killer (NK)-cells interact with target cells via activating and inhibiting surface receptors and kill in case of dominating activating signals. In this study, we investigated the effect of cold physical plasma (kINPen) on two skin cancer cell lines (A375 and A431), with non-malignant HaCaT keratinocytes as control, and identified a plasma treatment time-dependent toxicity that was more pronounced in the cancer cells. Plasma treatment also modulated the expression of activating and inhibiting receptors more profoundly in skin cancer cells compared to HaCaT cells, leading to significantly higher NK-cell killing rates in the tumor cells. Together with increased pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and IL-8, we conclude that plasma treatment spurs stress responses in skin cancer cells, eventually augmenting NK-cell activity.
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Dai X, Bazaka K, Thompson EW, Ostrikov K(K. Cold Atmospheric Plasma: A Promising Controller of Cancer Cell States. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113360. [PMID: 33202842 PMCID: PMC7696697 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer treatment is complicated by the distinct phenotypic attractor states in which cancer cells exist within individual tumors, and inherent plasticity of cells in transiting between these states facilitates the acquisition of drug-resistant and more stem cell-like phenotypes in cancer cells. Controlling these crucial transition switches is therefore critical for the long-term success of any cancer therapy. This paper highlights the most promising avenues for controlling cancer state transition events by cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to enable the development of efficient tools for cancer prevention and management. The key switches in carcinogenesis can be used to halt or reverse cancer progression, and understanding how CAP can modulate these processes is critical for the development of CAP-based strategies for cancer prevention, detection and effective treatment. Abstract Rich in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, cold atmospheric plasma has been shown to effectively control events critical to cancer progression; selectively inducing apoptosis, reducing tumor volume and vasculature, and halting metastasis by taking advantage of, e.g., synergies between hydrogen peroxide and nitrites. This paper discusses the efficacy, safety and administration of cold atmospheric plasma treatment as a potential tool against cancers, with a focus on the mechanisms by which cold atmospheric plasma may affect critical transitional switches that govern tumorigenesis: the life/death control, tumor angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and drug sensitivity spectrum. We introduce the possibility of modeling cell transitions between the normal and cancerous states using cold atmospheric plasma as a novel research avenue to enhance our understanding of plasma-aided control of oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Wuhan Ammunition Life-Tech Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430200, China
- Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-181-6887-0169
| | - Kateryna Bazaka
- Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia;
| | - Erik W. Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; (E.W.T.); (K.O.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; (E.W.T.); (K.O.)
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
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Verloy R, Privat-Maldonado A, Smits E, Bogaerts A. Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer-The Importance of Pancreatic Stellate Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102782. [PMID: 32998311 PMCID: PMC7601057 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review aims to highlight the potential of cold plasma, the fourth state of matter, as anti-cancer treatment for pancreatic cancer, and the importance of pancreatic stellate cells in the response to this treatment. Currently, a significant lack of basic research on cold plasma considering both pancreatic cancer and stellate cells exists. However, co-cultures of these populations can be advantageous, as they resemble the cell-to-cell interactions occurring in a tumor in response to therapy. Even more, these studies should be performed prior to clinical trials of cold plasma to avoid unforeseen responses to treatment. This review article provides a framework for future research of cold plasma therapies for pancreatic cancer, considering the critical role of pancreatic stellate cells in the disease and treatment outcome. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease with low five-year survival rates of 8% by conventional treatment methods, e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. PDAC shows high resistance towards chemo- and radiotherapy and only 15–20% of all patients can have surgery. This disease is predicted to become the third global leading cause of cancer death due to its significant rise in incidence. Therefore, the development of an alternative or combinational method is necessary to improve current approaches. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatments could offer multiple advantages to this emerging situation. The plasma-derived reactive species can induce oxidative damage and a cascade of intracellular signaling pathways, which could lead to cell death. Previous reports have shown that CAP treatment also influences cells in the tumor microenvironment, such as the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). These PSCs, when activated, play a crucial role in the propagation, growth and survival of PDAC tumors. However, the effect of CAP on PSCs is not yet fully understood. This review focuses on the application of CAP for PDAC treatment and the importance of PSCs in the response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Verloy
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-ANTwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
- Correspondence: (R.V.); (A.P.-M.); Tel.: +32-3265-2343 (R.V. & A.P.-M.)
| | - Angela Privat-Maldonado
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-ANTwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
- Correspondence: (R.V.); (A.P.-M.); Tel.: +32-3265-2343 (R.V. & A.P.-M.)
| | - Evelien Smits
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Annemie Bogaerts
- Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine-ANTwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
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Privat-Maldonado A, Bogaerts A. Plasma in Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092617. [PMID: 32937802 PMCID: PMC7564655 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
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Bekeschus S, Clemen R, Nießner F, Sagwal SK, Freund E, Schmidt A. Medical Gas Plasma Jet Technology Targets Murine Melanoma in an Immunogenic Fashion. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1903438. [PMID: 32440479 PMCID: PMC7237847 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Medical technologies from physics are imperative in the diagnosis and therapy of many types of diseases. In 2013, a novel cold physical plasma treatment concept was accredited for clinical therapy. This gas plasma jet technology generates large amounts of different reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS). Using a melanoma model, gas plasma technology is tested as a novel anticancer agent. Plasma technology derived ROS diminish tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Varying the feed gas mixture modifies the composition of ROS. Conditions rich in atomic oxygen correlate with killing activity and elevate intratumoral immune-infiltrates of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells and dendritic cells. T-cells from secondary lymphoid organs of these mice stimulated with B16 melanoma cells ex vivo show higher activation levels as well. This correlates with immunogenic cancer cell death and higher calreticulin and heat-shock protein 90 expressions induced by gas plasma treatment in melanoma cells. To test the immunogenicity of gas plasma treated melanoma cells, 50% of mice vaccinated with these cells are protected from tumor growth compared to 1/6 and 5/6 mice negative control (mitomycin C) and positive control (mitoxantrone), respectively. Gas plasma jet technology is concluded to provide immunoprotection against malignant melanoma both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald)Felix‐Hausdorff‐Str. 3Greifswald17489Germany
| | - Ramona Clemen
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald)Felix‐Hausdorff‐Str. 3Greifswald17489Germany
| | - Felix Nießner
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald)Felix‐Hausdorff‐Str. 3Greifswald17489Germany
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Sagwal
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald)Felix‐Hausdorff‐Str. 3Greifswald17489Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald)Felix‐Hausdorff‐Str. 3Greifswald17489Germany
| | - Anke Schmidt
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald)Felix‐Hausdorff‐Str. 3Greifswald17489Germany
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Bekeschus S, Eisenmann S, Sagwal SK, Bodnar Y, Moritz J, Poschkamp B, Stoffels I, Emmert S, Madesh M, Weltmann KD, von Woedtke T, Gandhirajan RK. xCT (SLC7A11) expression confers intrinsic resistance to physical plasma treatment in tumor cells. Redox Biol 2020; 30:101423. [PMID: 31931281 PMCID: PMC6957833 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold physical plasma is a partially ionized gas investigated as a new anticancer tool in selectively targeting cancer cells in monotherapy or in combination with therapeutic agents. Here, we investigated the intrinsic resistance mechanisms of tumor cells towards physical plasma treatment. When analyzing the dose-response relationship to cold plasma-derived oxidants in 11 human cancer cell lines, we identified four 'resistant' and seven 'sensitive' cell lines. We observed stable intracellular glutathione levels following plasma treatment only in the 'resistant' cell lines indicative of altered antioxidant mechanisms. Assessment of proteins involved in GSH metabolism revealed cystine-glutamate antiporter xCT (SLC7A11) to be significantly more abundant in the 'resistant' cell lines as compared to 'sensitive' cell lines. This decisive role of xCT was confirmed by pharmacological and genetic inhibition, followed by cold physical plasma treatment. Finally, microscopy analysis of ex vivo plasma-treated human melanoma punch biopsies suggested a correlation between apoptosis and basal xCT protein abundance. Taken together, our results demonstrate that xCT holds the potential as a biomarker predicting the sensitivity of tumor cells towards plasma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander Bekeschus
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Eisenmann
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Sagwal
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Yana Bodnar
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Juliane Moritz
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Broder Poschkamp
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany; Greifswald University Medical Center, Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ingo Stoffels
- University Hospital Essen, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Steffen Emmert
- Rostock University Medical Center, Clinic for Dermatology and Venereology, Strempelstr. 13, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Muniswamy Madesh
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas von Woedtke
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany; Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 48, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rajesh Kumar Gandhirajan
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK Plasmatis, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
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Gas Plasma-Conditioned Ringer's Lactate Enhances the Cytotoxic Activity of Cisplatin and Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro and In Ovo. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12010123. [PMID: 31906595 PMCID: PMC7017174 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumor entities. Diffuse metastatic infiltration of vessels and the peritoneum restricts curative surgery. Standard chemotherapy protocols include the cytostatic drug gemcitabine with limited efficacy at considerable toxicity. In search of a more effective and less toxic treatment modality, we tested in human pancreatic cancer cells (MiaPaca and PaTuS) a novel combination therapy consisting of cytostatic drugs (gemcitabine or cisplatin) and gas plasma-conditioned Ringer’s lactate that acts via reactive oxygen species. A decrease in metabolic activity and viability, change in morphology, and cell cycle arrest was observed in vitro. The combination treatment was found to be additively toxic. The findings were validated utilizing an in ovo tumor model of solid pancreatic tumors growing on the chorion-allantois membrane of fertilized chicken eggs (TUM-CAM). The combination of the drugs (especially cisplatin) with the plasma-conditioned liquid significantly enhanced the anti-cancer effects, resulting in the induction of cell death, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of cell growth with both of the cell lines tested. In conclusion, our novel combination approach may be a promising new avenue to increase the tolerability and efficacy of locally applied chemotherapeutic in diffuse metastatic peritoneal carcinomatosis of the pancreas.
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Modifying the Tumour Microenvironment: Challenges and Future Perspectives for Anticancer Plasma Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121920. [PMID: 31810265 PMCID: PMC6966454 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumours are complex systems formed by cellular (malignant, immune, and endothelial cells, fibroblasts) and acellular components (extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents and secreted factors). A close interplay between these factors, collectively called the tumour microenvironment, is required to respond appropriately to external cues and to determine the treatment outcome. Cold plasma (here referred as ‘plasma’) is an emerging anticancer technology that generates a unique cocktail of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to eliminate cancerous cells via multiple mechanisms of action. While plasma is currently regarded as a local therapy, it can also modulate the mechanisms of cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM communication, which could facilitate the propagation of its effect in tissue and distant sites. However, it is still largely unknown how the physical interactions occurring between cells and/or the ECM in the tumour microenvironment affect the plasma therapy outcome. In this review, we discuss the effect of plasma on cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM communication in the context of the tumour microenvironment and suggest new avenues of research to advance our knowledge in the field. Furthermore, we revise the relevant state-of-the-art in three-dimensional in vitro models that could be used to analyse cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM communication and further strengthen our understanding of the effect of plasma in solid tumours.
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