Verification of suppression of cancer metastasis by discharging plasma

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K18846
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 21:Electrical and electronic engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Ono Ryo 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (90323443)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ医療 / 癌治療 / 免疫治療 / 転移 / ストリーマ放電

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined whether discharge plasma has the effect of reducing cancer metastasis using mice, where the plasma can activate the immune system specific to cancer. In the experiments on suppressing lung metastasis of melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer, a result did not deny the effect of plasma, but the other result did not show an apparent effect. Next, we did an alternative experiment to examine whether the plasma could enhance the effect of anti-PD-1 antibodies, which is used for cancer immunotherapy and may also have the effect of suppressing cancer metastasis. An experiment showed an apparent effect of the plasma, whereas other experiments did not show apparent effects. We suggested that the effect of plasma may be more clearly observed if the conditions of plasma treatment are optimized.

Free Research Field

プラズマ応用工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

プラズマによる癌の転移抑制に関わる実験を2種類行い、いずれも明確な効果、あるいはプラズマの効果を否定しない結果が一部得られたが、効果がみられない結果も多く観測された。しかし、プラズマの照射条件はまだ最適化しておらず、この最適化を行えばプラズマの効果は向上するため、一部でもプラズマの効果を示唆する結果が得られたことは、今後のプラズマ癌免疫治療の研究における一つの指針を示すことができたといえる。