Induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by a pulsed atmospheric pressure plasma jet

By using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet driven by pulsed dc voltage with repetition rate of several tens of kilohertz, we were able to induce apoptosis in cultured human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The apoptotic changes in cells with plasma treatment were detected by flow cytometry and fluorescence staining assay. A significant portion of these cells was observed to exhibit the apoptotic fragmentation. Helium plasma with additive O(2) gas was found to be effective in the induction of apoptosis. This plasma jet provides an effective mode of human breast cancer cell therapy. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3462293]