Synergistic Inhibition of Tumor Cell Proliferation by Cold Plasma and Gemcitabine

In the field of plasma medicine, cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) is applied to biological matter for a therapeutic benefit. The latter is mediated by CAP-generated reactive species which treatment time-dependently either stimulate cells or induce their apoptosis. Accordingly, antitumor effects of plasma have been observed previously, but only few studies have included proper controls to compare the plasma's cytotoxicity. We here present results that murine cancer cells are more susceptible to CAP treatment compared to non-malignant fibroblasts in vitro. Additional challenge with the chemotherapeutic Gemcitabine significantly enhanced tumor cell but not fibroblast metabolic inhibition, suggesting potential combinatory effects in anticancer therapy.