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Review
. 2014:2014:878319.
doi: 10.1155/2014/878319. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Low temperature plasma: a novel focal therapy for localized prostate cancer?

Adam M Hirst  1 , Fiona M Frame  2 , Norman J Maitland  2 , Deborah O'Connell  1
Affiliations
Review

Low temperature plasma: a novel focal therapy for localized prostate cancer?

Adam M Hirst et al. Biomed Res Int. 2014.

Abstract

Despite considerable advances in recent years for the focal treatment of localized prostate cancer, high recurrence rates and detrimental side effects are still a cause for concern. In this review, we compare current focal therapies to a potentially novel approach for the treatment of early onset prostate cancer: low temperature plasma. The rapidly evolving plasma technology has the potential to deliver a wide range of promising medical applications via the delivery of plasma-induced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Studies assessing the effect of low temperature plasma on cell lines and xenografts have demonstrated DNA damage leading to apoptosis and reduction in cell viability. However, there have been no studies on prostate cancer, which is an obvious candidate for this novel therapy. We present here the potential of low temperature plasma as a focal therapy for prostate cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Examples of different plasma devices for medical applications. Linear-field plasma jets: (a) dielectric barrier discharge jet configuration (DBD), (b) floating-electrode DBD (FE-DBD), and cross-field plasma jets (c) radiofrequency (RF).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustrative diagram conveying the interaction of a DBD plasma jet with a cancerous tumour, leading to the induction of intracellular RONS, DNA damage, and resultant effects such as cell cycle arrest, cell death, and decreased viability.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proposed treatment approach for LTP treatment of localized prostate cancer. The LTP device is administered transperineally to an organ confined prostate cancer. Supporting image guidance from a TRUS probe, along with high-voltage (HV) power supply and gas flow-rate control are shown.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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