Hydrogen Water Injections Shrink Aggressive Breast Cancer in Mice
- Authors
- Liu Jingxuan, M O Qian, Lei Guowu, Jia Yejuan, L I Aiying, Jia Chunsheng, Pan Lijia
- Journal
- Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20250929.002
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich water injected at acupuncture points slowed tumor growth and activated immune and metabolic pathways linked to cancer suppression.
Key Finding
Injecting hydrogen-rich water at the Zusanli acupuncture point significantly slowed tumor growth in mice with triple-negative breast cancer and altered immune-related proteins and metabolic pathways associated with cancer suppression.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-rich water injected at a specific acupuncture point (called Zusanli or ST36) in mice with triple-negative breast cancer (an aggressive form of cancer). After 21 days of treatment, the tumors grew significantly less in treated mice compared to untreated mice. By analyzing proteins and metabolites (small molecules produced during body processes), the researchers found that the hydrogen-rich water appeared to work by boosting immune cells and changing the activity of proteins involved in cancer growth.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage mouse study combining two interventions (hydrogen-rich water and acupuncture point injection), so findings cannot yet be applied to humans. The results suggest hydrogen-rich water may influence immune responses in ways relevant to cancer, but human clinical trials would be needed to determine if this approach is safe or effective for people with breast cancer. Anyone with cancer should consult their oncologist before considering any experimental treatment.
Abstract
Objective: To develop a safe and effective green therapy for triple-negative breast cancer, this study combines hydrogen-rich water with acupuncture point injection, and finds that it can prevent tumor growth and minimize cancer metastasis. Methods: After 21 d of hydrogen rich water injection treatment on 4T1 (mouse breast cancer cells) xenograft mice, in order to systematically identify differentially expressed proteins in tumor samples between the model group and the Zusanli (ST36) group injected with hydrogen rich water at acupoints, with a focus on functional proteins or signaling pathways related to tumor occurrence and development, researchers conducted four-dimensional data independent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomic analysis on tumor tissues. In order to further investigate the dynamic changes of metabolites after therapeutic intervention, researchers conducted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry untargeted metabolomics identification and analysis on mouse serum. The results of the joint proteomics-metabolomics analysis were validated using experimental methods such as immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detection. Results: Injecting hydrogen-rich water into acupoints significantly inhibited tumor growth (P < 0.05). 4D-DIA proteomics and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses uncovered pathways such as T helper 1 cell (Th1) and T helper 2 cell (Th2) cell differentiation. The KEGG metabolic pathways identified in the metabolomics analysis included galactose metabolism along with fructose and mannose metabolism. Based on the combined proteomics and metabolomics analysis, the key pathways included the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway. The major cancer-related differential proteins detected in Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation [interleukin 6 signal transducer, nuclear factor of activated T cells 4, recombinant mitogen activated protein kinase 10 (MAPK10), and MAPK11] were upregulated after the injection of hydrogen-rich water into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, whereas Linker for activation of T cells (Lat), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, and protein kinase C, theta were downregulated. Conclusion: The injection of hydrogen-rich water into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint effectively inhibited the hyperplasia of 4T1 BC cells and enhanced their apoptosis, potentially exerting a therapeutic effect through multiple pathways and targeting various sites.