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Hydrogen Gas Blocks Lung Cancer Growth by Targeting Key Protein

Hydrogen gas inhibits lung cancer progression through targeting SMC3

Research hubs: Respiratory System · Eyes & Vision System

Scientific visualization of hydrogen therapy research for Hydrogen gas inhibits lung cancer progression through targeting SMC3
Authors
Dongchang Wang, Lifei Wang, Yu Zhang, Yunxia Zhao, Gang Chen
Journal
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Year
2018
Study Type
Cell Culture
Delivery
Gas
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Cited by
101 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
Country
China

TL;DR

Hydrogen gas (H2) has been found to slow down the growth and spread of lung cancer cells and may offer a new treatment approach.

Key Finding

Hydrogen gas inhibited lung cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion while promoting cancer cell death by reducing levels of the SMC3 protein and halting cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.

Summary

Researchers tested whether hydrogen gas could slow lung cancer growth by studying its effects on cancer cells in the laboratory and in mice. They found that hydrogen gas reduced cancer cell growth, stopped cells from spreading, and triggered cancer cell death by affecting a protein called SMC3 that controls how chromosomes are organized during cell division. In mice with lung cancer, hydrogen gas reduced tumor size, though not as effectively as the chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

Practical Takeaway

This is early laboratory and animal research showing hydrogen gas may have anti-cancer properties against lung cancer through a specific molecular mechanism. However, these findings are from cell cultures and mice, not humans, so it is far too early to draw conclusions about whether hydrogen gas could help treat lung cancer in people. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any therapeutic claims could be made.

Abstract (excerpt)

Lung cancer is one of the most common lethal malignancies in the globe. The patients' prognoses are dim due to its high metastatic potential and drug resistance. Therefore, in the present study, we aim to find a more potent therapeutic approach for lung cancer. We mainly explored the function…

Read the full abstract on PubMed