Gas Therapy Shows Promise for Cancer Treatment and Imaging
- Authors
- Lichan Chen, Shu-Feng Zhou, Lichao Su, Jibin Song
- Journal
- ACS Nano
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1021/acsnano.9b04954
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Cancer
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Scientists are developing new ways to use special gases like hydrogen and nitric oxide to both find and kill cancer cells in the body, kind of like using a tool that can spot the problem and fix it at the same time—but they still need to test these treatments more in real patients before doctors can actually use them.
Key Finding
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Summary
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of gas-mediated cancer therapy, examining how therapeutic gases like hydrogen (H2), nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and others can treat cancer. The study analyzed stimuli-responsive gas-releasing molecules and nanogenerators that deliver these gases directly to tumors. These systems enable both cancer imaging and targeted treatment while minimizing side effects. The gases work through various mechanisms including reducing inflammation, cutting off tumor blood supply, and enhancing other treatments. While showing promising results in laboratory studies, researchers note that clinical translation remains challenging and requires further development before widespread medical use.
Abstract
Gas-involving cancer theranostics have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their high therapeutic efficacy and biosafety. We have reviewed the recent significant advances in the development of stimuli-responsive gas releasing molecules (GRMs) and gas nanogenerators for cancer bioimaging, targeted and controlled gas therapy, and gas-sensitized synergistic therapy. We have focused on gases with known anticancer effects, such as oxygen (O2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen (H2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and heavy gases that act via the gas-generating process. The GRMs and gas nanogenerators for each gas have been described in terms of the stimulation method, followed by their applications in ultrasound and multimodal imaging, and finally their primary and synergistic actions with other cancer therapeutic modalities. The current challenges and future possibilities of gas therapy and imaging vis-à-vis clinical translation have also been discussed.