Hydrogen Gas Therapy Boosts Immune Cells in Advanced Colon Cancer
Hydrogen gas restores exhausted CD8+ T�cells in patients with advanced colorectal cancer to improve prognosis
Research hubs: Immune System · Digestive System
- Evidence type
- Uncontrolled trial (single-arm or pilot) · Human study
- Authors
- Junji Akagi, Hideo Baba
- Journal
- Oncology Reports
- Year
- 2019
- PMID
- 30542740
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 55
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 3 h/day hydrogen gas inhalation
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 80 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas may rejuvenate tired immune cells and improve survival in advanced colorectal cancer patients.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation decreased exhausted CD8+ T cells and improved both progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy.
Summary
This study examined whether inhaling hydrogen gas could help restore immune cells called CD8+ T cells in 55 patients with advanced colorectal cancer. These immune cells often become exhausted and stop working properly in cancer patients. The researchers found that patients who inhaled hydrogen gas for 3 hours daily alongside chemotherapy showed improvements in their immune cell function and lived longer without cancer progression compared to what would be expected based on their initial immune cell profiles.
Practical Takeaway
While this human study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may support immune function in advanced cancer patients, it was conducted in a specific population (stage IV colorectal cancer) alongside chemotherapy, and the study design does not allow us to determine how much benefit came from hydrogen gas alone versus chemotherapy. Anyone with cancer should discuss any complementary therapies with their oncologist before use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Exhausted cluster of differentiation (CD)8+ T cells lose immunological activity due to mitochondrial dysfunction caused by peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‑1α) inactivation, resulting in a poor prognosis in patients with cancer. As hydrogen gas was recently reported…