Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas as a novel candidate for preventive therapy of melanoma

Environ Health Prev Med. 2014 Sep;19(5):367-9. doi: 10.1007/s12199-014-0399-1. Epub 2014 Jul 19.

Abstract

Due to the increased ultraviolet radiation, the incidence of melanoma is increasing worldwide more than that of any other cancer. In this study, the effects of irradiation of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas (NEAPPs) on benign melanocytic tumors from our original hairless model mice (HL-RET-mice), in which benign melanocytic tumors and melanomas spontaneously develop in the skin stepwise, were examined. Expression levels of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA in melanomas were higher than those in benign melanocytic tumors in the mice. Repeated irradiation of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas (NEAPPs) for the benign tumors decreased the expression levels of MCAM and MMP-2 mRNA in the tumors from the mice. Previous studies showed that MCAM sites are upstream of MMP-2, that MCAM regulates transcription of MMP-2 in melanoma cells and that MMP-2 is associated with the conversion of a benign tumor to a malignant tumor. Therefore, our results suggest that the NEAPP irradiation-mediated decrease in the expression level of MMP-2 in benign melanocytic tumors is associated with decreased expression levels of MCAM. Moreover, NEAPP irradiation might be a potential candidate for therapy to prevent melanoma development through suppression of malignant conversion in benign melanocytic tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atmospheric Pressure
  • CD146 Antigen / genetics
  • CD146 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / radiation effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Melanoma / radiotherapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Hairless
  • Plasma Gases / therapeutic use*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / radiotherapy*

Substances

  • CD146 Antigen
  • Mcam protein, mouse
  • Plasma Gases
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Mmp2 protein, mouse