Low-temperature Plasma Jet Activated Media Induces Apoptosis in Bladder Cancer Cells via the Cytochrome c/caspase 3 Pathway

Abstract

Current methods used to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer are inadequate due to a high recurrence rate after surgery and occurrence of adverse events such as interstitial pneumonia following intravesical instillation therapy. Low-temperature plasma is a new form of physical therapy that provides a rich source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative solutions, created by pre-treatment of aqueous media with plasma before application to target cells, lead to the destruction of cancer cells through oxidative stress pathways. This study focuses on the effects of plasma activated media (PAM) in bladder cancer cells. PAM treatment increases up regulation of p21 and down regulation of Cyclin D and CdK4 leading to cell cycle arrest, and concomitantly depolarises the mitochondrial membrane leading to increased mitochondrial ROS production. Cell cycle arrest and increased mitochondrial ROS production induce apoptosis in bladder cancer cells in vitro and in a bladder cancer tumour in vivo via the pro-apoptotic caspase 3/cytochrome c pathway. These observations highlight the potential of plasma activated solutions as a new adjuvant therapy in the clinical treatment of bladder cancer.

Interplay of Serum Apoptotic Proteins and Oxidative Stress Markers in Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

“…Our finding supports this assertion with elevated levels of MDA and H2O2, the positive association between H2O2 and p53 further learn credence to the involvement of oxidative stress in apoptosis. Serum Cytochrome c is a marker of cell death and or slow tumor growth, its association with H2O2 in this study supports the role of oxidative stress in apoptosis, and recruitment of more cytochrome c may require a further increase in plasma levels of H2O2 [27]. It is unclear if the antioxidant system response to counteract the oxidative molecules produced in prostate cancer improves the efficiency of apoptosis or otherwise.…”