Cytotoxicity Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Melanoma (B16-F10), Breast (MCF-7) and Lung (A549) Cancer Cell LinesCompared with Normal Cells

Cancer is one of the major health challenges in the world. The efficacy of current treatments is low but their side effects are high. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a new modality for cancer treatment. This study aimed to compare the cytotoxicity effect of CAP on the cell line models of common cancers and normal cells.

In this experimental study, argon based CAP was used to treat mouse melanoma (B16-F10), human breast cancer (MCF-7), human lung cancer (A549) cell lines, and compared with normal mouse fibroblast cells (L929), and human immortalized normal respiratory epithelial cell (Beas). We cultivated 4 groups in each cancer and normal cell lines: untreated cells; CAP exposed cells  for 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and 40 seconds.The morphological alterations and proliferation rate of the cells were evaluated after 24 and 48 hours.

The viability of CAP-treated cancer cells significantly decreased compared to that of the untreated cells. The viability of A549 and MCF-7 cell lines decreased to 33.9% and 49.5%, 24 hours after CAP therapy for 30 seconds. In addition, 40 seconds exposure to CAP reduced viability of B16-F10 melanoma cells to 37.9%. Whereas the CAP had no detrimental cytotoxic effect on normal L929 cells. The maintenance effect of CAP had a time dependent pattern and its cytotoxicity effect increased from 24 to 48 hour incubation.

This study showed that the effect of CAP on cancer cells is a selective effect that is largely dependent on the radiation dose and duration of exposure of cells to compounds produced by CAP. We can use CAP in treatment of cancer because of its cytotoxicity and selectivity on cancer cells.