LTP Treatment Effective Against Prostate Cancer
A new potential treatment for prostate cancer, which involves the use of low temperature plasmas (LTPs) has been identified, according to a new study.
“Through this research we have found that LTPs induce high levels of DNA damage, which leads in turn to a substantial reduction in colony forming ability, and ultimately necrotic cell death,”1said Adam Hirst, a PhD student at the York Plasma Institute.
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“Using clinically relevant, close-to-patient samples, we have presented the first experimental evidence promoting the potential of LTP as a future focal cancer therapy treatment for patients with early stage prostate cancer,” he said.1
For the study, researchers were able compare the efficacy of the treatment after taking both prostate cancer tissue cells and healthy prostate cells (bPH-1 and PC-3 cells) from a single patient.1,2
The study showed that LTP treatment yielded high amounts of DNA damage, and a reduction in colony forming ability and cell viability in the primary prostate cells, which led to rapid necrotic cell death. The investigators noted that autophagy occurred in primary cells as well.2
Researchers noted that further studies should be conducted to analyze primary cultures in order to obtain better understanding of patient response. 1,2
The complete study is published in the April issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
-Michelle Canales Butcher
References:
1. The University of York. York scientists lead study on new treatment for prostate cancer. April 8, 2015. www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2015/research/prostate-cancer-treatment/. Accessed April 13, 2015.
2. Hirst AM, Simms MS, Mann VM, et al. Low-temperature plasma treatment induces DNA damage leading to necrotic cell death in primary prostate epithelial cells. BJC. 2015 April [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1038/bjc.2015.113.