New research in the intriguing field of plasma medicine has demonstrated the potential of J-Plasma as a method to kill and inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. The recent study published in Plasma Processes and Polymers, used J-Plasma with its Cold Atmospheric Plasma, known as CAP. This cutting-edge technology is still in the early phase of research for use in killing cancer cells. However, the early evidence is clear that the J-Plasma helium plasma device has strong potential in this application. CAP is created by adding energy to gas. While it sounds complex, and it is, these devices have an older generation relative you may already know well, the Bovie electrosurgcial device.
The device in this study, J-Plasma, by Bovie Medical uses helium gas to create plasma, and it is the new generation, multifunctional surgical device being tested for its efficacy in killing a prostate cancer cell line in a bench study. Similar to the earlier generation monopolar device, J-Plasma cuts, coagulates and ablates tissue. The plasma allows for enhanced precision and less thermal spread to the healthy surrounding tissue. Beyond added functionality, it is also available in a few different handpieces and product configurations.
The biggest difference is the CAP technology is a marked upgrade to the original monopolar device. It allows for ultimate precision without disturbing any surrounding healthy tissue. This precision can be controlled down to the micron level and this holds significant promise for treatment of cancerous tissues.
The ODU team of scientists, led by Dr. Mounir Laroussi studied the J-Plasma on the DU145 prostate cancer cell line in-vivo, meaning tests were done in a lab using cancer cells suspended in a liquid media. No live patients were involved in this particular study. During the course of their research, variables in duty, wattage and exposure time were all assessed. They concluded that J-Plasma was effective at reducing the number of viable DU145 cells even at exposure times of only 30 seconds.
While further studies are needed for reproducibility and utility on human test subjects, the J-Plasma shows strong potential for eradicating and inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer cells. Exciting news, indeed.
