Cold atmospheric plasma selectively suppresses oral squamous carcinoma through ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), an emerging therapy in the physical treatment landscape, offers notable benefits in oncological interventions. This study undertook a comprehensive investigation of CAP's biological effects and its modulation of molecular networks in oral squamous cell carcinoma squamous carcinoma cells (SAS) cells. Our findings demonstrate that CAP selectively inhibits SAS cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, triggering apoptosis via reactive oxygen species generation, with minimal toxicity on healthy cells. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that CAP significantly alters the transcriptional profile of SAS cells, regulating key signaling pathways involved in cell growth, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function. By exploring the interface of physical and biological interactions, this study elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying CAP's anticancer activity and provides compelling experimental evidence to support its clinical potential. These insights broaden the biomedical applications of CAP and offer additional perspectives for advancing innovative physical therapies.