For the first time, physicists from the Max Planck Institute
for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), biologists and physicians demonstrated the
synergistic effect of cold atmospheric plasma - a partly ionized gas - and
chemo therapy on aggressive brain tumour cells. Laboratory tests showed that
the proliferation of glioblastoma cells – the most common and aggressive brain
tumour in adults – is arrested and that even resistant cell populations become
sensitive to treatment with chemo therapy if pre-treated with cold atmospheric
plasma. This could be the first step on the way to a new combination therapy,
providing new hope for fighting this lethal cancer.