Hydrogen Gas Reduced Gastric Cancer Cell Growth in Lab Tests
Hydrogen inhibits the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells by modulating lncRNA MALAT1/miR-124-3p/EZH2 axis
Research hubs: Digestive System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Baocheng Zhu, Hengguan Cui, Weiqiang Xu
- Journal
- Cancer Cell International
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 33482814
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- H2/O2 gas mixture (66.7%:33.3% v/v)
- H₂ concentration
- 66.7% H2 gas
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 35 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas treatment may offer a new way to slow down the growth and spread of gastric cancer by affecting certain molecules in the cancer cells.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration in laboratory studies and tumor growth in mice, working through a specific molecular pathway involving three regulatory molecules.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen gas could slow the growth of gastric (stomach) cancer cells in laboratory dishes and in mice. They found that hydrogen gas reduced cancer cell growth and movement, and it did this by changing the activity of certain molecules (called lncRNA MALAT1, miR-124-3p, and EZH2) that control how cancer cells behave. When they artificially increased one of these molecules (MALAT1), hydrogen's anti-cancer effects disappeared, suggesting this molecular pathway is key to how hydrogen works.
Practical Takeaway
While these results are promising, this study was conducted only in laboratory cells and mice—not in humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before hydrogen gas could be considered a gastric cancer treatment. The findings do suggest a potential mechanism worth investigating further, but anyone with gastric cancer should rely on established medical treatments rather than hydrogen-based approaches.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent and deadly malignancies without efficient treatment option. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrogen gas on the behavior of gastric cancer cells. Methods: Gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and BGC-823 were treated…