Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Radiation Side Effects in Cervical Cancer

Authors
Journal
Advances in Radiation Oncology
Year
DOI
10.1016/j.adro.2025.101879
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
China
Health Condition
Cervical Cancer
Body System
Gastrointestinal

TL;DR

Inhaling hydrogen gas during cancer treatment reduced gut inflammation and symptoms of radiation enteritis without affecting tumor response.

Key Finding

Cervical cancer patients who inhaled hydrogen gas during concurrent chemoradiation therapy had significantly lower inflammatory markers and milder intestinal damage compared to the control group, while maintaining equivalent cancer treatment effectiveness.

Summary

This study tested whether inhaled hydrogen gas could reduce intestinal damage and inflammation in cervical cancer patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy together. Patients who inhaled a hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture for 2 hours on each radiation day showed lower levels of inflammatory markers (substances in the blood that indicate inflammation) and fewer gastrointestinal symptoms compared to patients who received standard treatment alone, without affecting how well the cancer treatment worked.

Practical Takeaway

This early human study suggests hydrogen inhalation may help reduce radiation-related intestinal side effects in cancer patients, though the relatively small sample size and lack of reported study duration mean larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm these findings. The results are specific to patients undergoing cancer treatment and cannot be generalized to other populations or health conditions.

Abstract

Purpose: Acute radiation enteritis (ARE) is a common toxic inflammatory reaction in patients with cervical cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Molecular hydrogen, as a novel antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, may alleviate treatment-related toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled hydrogen in preventing ARE and modulating systemic inflammation. Methods: Eligible patients with cervical cancer undergoing CCRT were prospectively enrolled and randomized into an experimental group (n = 28) or a control group (n = 30). The experimental group received inhalation therapy with a hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture (66.6% hydrogen, 33.3% oxygen; 3 L/min, 2 h/d) on each radiation therapy day. Inflammatory biomarkers-including C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and interleukin 6-as well as hemogram parameters, fecal occult blood, Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force-Subjective, Objective, Management, and Analytic scores; Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment scores; and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group enteritis grades were monitored during treatment and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors scores. Results: Baseline characteristics (age, tumor stage, pathology, and surgical history) were balanced between groups (P > .05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, interleukin 6, and fecal occult blood positivity rates (P < .05). Clinical assessments also indicated lower Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force-Subjective, Objective, Management, and Analytic and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment scores and milder Radiation Therapy Oncology Group enteritis grading in the hydrogen group (P < .05). Importantly, no significant difference in tumor response was observed between groups based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, suggesting that hydrogen therapy did not interfere with the antitumor efficacy of CCRT. No adverse events related to hydrogen inhalation were reported. Conclusion: Hydrogen inhalation is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy that significantly alleviates inflammation and mitigates clinical symptoms of ARE in patients with cervical cancer who are undergoing CCRT, without compromising antitumor treatment outcomes.