Cold Physical Plasma in Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Signaling, and Immunity

Figure 3

Model of three cell death signaling pathways in plasma-treated cancer cells. Plasma exposure increases aquaporin transporters in cancer cell membranes that allow the transport of H₂O₂ into the cells. Additionally, plasma treatment oxidizes cellular membranes, leading to cell death signaling. The excessive intracellular ROS contribute to the initiation of the cell death signaling (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis) in cancer cells, partially through the activation of the MAPK pathway.