In Vitro Cold Plasma Treatment Inducing Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cancer Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has the lowest individual survival rate of the 4 major types of leukemia with only 23.6% of patients living for 5 years ("Disease Information and Support,"). There is therefore a need to develop improved treatment techniques for AML in particular due to its comparatively low 5 year survival rates. Non-thermal plasma has a variety of potential biomedical applications including cancer treatment (Fridman et al., 2008).  In this study, we proposed the use of non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a novel treatment for AML. We hypothesized that NTP directs proapoptotic mechanisms in AML in a dose-dependent manner through interaction with reactive ions produced by the NTP. AML cells in suspension were treated with non-thermal plasma with varying parameters to specifically induce apoptosis in the cells. Apoptotic behavior was identified using fluorescent dyes conjugated with apoptosis detectors such as annexin V, and the fluorescence was analyzed by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometery. Markers that identify stages in specific apoptotic pathways were examined in order to determine the mechanism of non-thermal plasma action. We have identified that apoptotic behavior is being induced based on the continued cell death over time, post treatment. By inducing apoptosis in AML cells, non-thermal plasma presents a viable option for a novel cancer treatment technique.

Disease Information and Support. (02-16-2012)  Retrieved 04-04-2012, from http://www.lls.org/diseaseinformation/leukemia/

Fridman, G., Friedman, G., Gustol, A., Shekhter, A., Vasilets, V., & Fridman, A. (2008). Applied Plasma Medicine. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 5(6), 503-533.