Feasibility and risk of cold plasma endoscopy for cholangiocarcinoma in human-like & porcine models.

What is it about?

The article presents a study on the potential of cold plasma endoscopy for treating cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a biliary tract cancer. The study validates the safety and efficacy of a cold plasma catheter, which was used to induce antitumor effects on experimental models of CCA. The transferred plasma catheter, which is a simple and easy-to-use device, was utilized and validated through three experimental campaigns. In the first campaign, the catheter was applied to an artificial human biliary tree model, and the voltage and current values were measured as low as 3.98 VRMS and 1.19 mARMS, respectively, with no electrical or thermal risks. In the second campaign, the catheter was placed in a conventional duodenoscope and inserted into a post-mortem porcine biliary tree model, with no thermal damage observed. In the third campaign, the antitumor effects of the transferred plasma catheter were demonstrated in an in vitro study on human CCA cell lines. The study concludes that cold plasma endoscopy could potentially be a safe and effective local treatment for CCA, pending clinical trials.

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Photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash

Photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research work is important because it demonstrates the potential of using cold plasma technology as a local treatment for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a biliary tract cancer with a very poor prognosis. We have developed a transferred plasma catheter, which allows guided streamers of cold plasma to be transferred over lengths of at least 2 m, and we have evaluated its safety and efficacy in both an artificial human biliary tree model and a post-mortem porcine biliary tree model. The results of the study demonstrate that the cold plasma catheter can safely induce antitumor effects on in vitro experimental models of human CCA. The potential of cold plasma technology as a breakthrough treatment for cancer has been researched for the past twelve years, and this study adds to the growing body of evidence that supports its use. The study also highlights the need for innovation in catheters and endoscopic devices to enable the application of cold plasma therapy in a clinical setting. Overall, this research work paves the way for future clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cold plasma endoscopy as a potential treatment for cholangiocarcinoma and other types of cancer.

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