Impact of Cold Physical Plasma in Palliative Cancer Care

Objectives: Considerable progress has been made since the 2012 Roadmap of plasma medicine in understanding some of the key biochemical processes associated with plasma sources. This report as part of a large-scale study program is illustrating one recent impressive application of Cold Physical Plasma (CAP) to a patient suffering from advances head and neck cancer.

Methods: A 51-years old male patient presented with a rapidly progressive swelling on the left neck, a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma proven by histology. After a palliatively intended combined radio-chemotherapy, the tumor was characterized by progressive growth with exulceration. Due to the vulnerability of the extended microbial contaminated wound and the underlying carotid artery, the patient was treated with the aim of decontamination, reducing the fetid odor and for pain reduction by applying CAP (kINPenMED Neoplas GmbH, Greifswald, Germany). The palliation treatment took place three times per week, 1 minute/cm². The efficacy of treatment is documented by the follow up of clinical photographs, microbiology, clinical protocol, histology and documentation of tumor cell effects

Results: The superinfected necrotic tumor areas appear to be cleaned of cell detritus and bacteria. Microbiological examination reveals a reduction of bacterial colonization which led to decrease of wound odor. Due to the decrease of inflammation, wound algesia has been reduced significantly. In line with CAP therapy tumor mass reduction is observed. The ulcerated tumor area after 4 month of treatment covers just one-quarter of its original size. Histological examination is documenting an increased amount of apoptotic tumor cells and a local increase of cellular immune defense. No plasma relevant systemic side effects have occurred.

Conclusion: The impressive demonstration of medical efficacy of CAP in cancer ulcerations supports optimism for more definitive large-scale clinical case trials of plasma medical devices with the intention of an adaptive cancer treatment protocol.