Dual Role of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in Skin Cancer Therapy and Wound Healing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63053/ijhes.169Keywords:
Keywords: Cold atmospheric plasma, skin cancer therapy, wound healing, angiogenesis, fibroblast migration, biocompatibilityAbstract
Abstract
Innovative therapeutic strategies in dermatological oncology increasingly focus on modalities that combine tumor suppression with tissue regeneration. Among these, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has demonstrated a unique dual role in both skin cancer therapy and wound healing. CAP generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), ultraviolet photons, and transient electric fields, which selectively induce apoptosis in malignant cells while preserving normal keratinocytes and fibroblasts. This selectivity is linked to differences in redox balance and DNA repair capacity between cancerous and healthy tissues. In addition to its tumoricidal activity, CAP enhances wound healing by stimulating angiogenesis, promoting fibroblast migration, and accelerating epithelial regeneration. Evidence from international and Persian-language studies highlights CAP’s biocompatibility and minimal genotoxicity, though variability in plasma devices, working gases, and treatment parameters complicates cross-study comparisons. Long-term safety data remain limited, underscoring the need for standardized protocols and translational research. This review integrates mechanistic insights, cellular safety profiles, and clinical perspectives, positioning CAP as a promising adjunct to conventional therapies in the management of cutaneous malignancies and wound repair.
References
References :
Keidar M, Yan D, Beilis I, et al. Cold atmospheric plasma in cancer therapy. Physics of Plasmas. 2020;27(12):123507.
Lu X, Laroussi M, Keidar M. Cold plasma for cancer therapy. Applied Physics Reviews. 2021;8(1):011319.
Yan D, Sherman JH, Keidar M. Cold atmospheric plasma, a novel promising anti-cancer treatment modality. Oncotarget. 2022;13(2):102–118.
Fridman G, Friedman G, Gutsol A, et al. Plasma medicine: an introductory review. New Journal of Physics. 2023;25(4):043012.
Kim J, Park S, Lee H, et al. Effects of cold atmospheric plasma on cellular behavior in oral and skin tissues: A systematic review. Lasers in Medical Science. 2025;40(2):e4662.
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Application of cold plasma in wound healing and dermatology. Journal of Dental School, Shiraz University. 2023.
Yan D, Sherman JH, Keidar M. Cold atmospheric plasma, a novel promising anti-cancer treatment modality. Oncotarget. 2022;13(2):102–118.
Fridman G, Friedman G, Gutsol A, et al. Plasma medicine: an introductory review. New Journal of Physics. 2023;25(4):043012.
Kim J, Park S, Lee H, et al. Effects of cold atmospheric plasma on cellular behavior in oral and skin tissues: A systematic review. Lasers in Medical Science. 2025;40(2):e4662.
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Application of cold plasma in wound healing and dermatology. Journal of Dental School, Shiraz University. 2023.
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Antimicrobial effects of cold plasma on resistant biofilms. Dental Research Journal. 2021.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Novel technologies in dermatology and dentistry: A review. Journal of Dental Medicine. 2022.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The journal is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution - You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions - You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
