Hydrogen Gas Slows Ovarian Cancer Growth in Laboratory Study
- Authors
- Lei Shang, Fei Xie, Jiala Li, Yating Zhang, Mengyu Liu, Pengxiang Zhao, Xuemei Ma, Tyler W. Lebaron
- Journal
- Translational Cancer Research
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.21037/tcr.2018.07.09
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Ovarian Cancer
- Body System
- Reproductive System
TL;DR
Breathing in molecular hydrogen significantly slowed down the growth of ovarian cancer in mice and reduced the cancer cells' ability to spread and form new tumors.
Key Finding
Six weeks of hydrogen gas inhalation reduced tumor volume by 32% and decreased markers of cancer cell growth and blood vessel formation by 30-74% in mice with ovarian cancer.
Summary
Researchers tested whether molecular hydrogen (a gas) could slow ovarian cancer growth in mice and in cancer cells grown in the lab. They found that mice breathing hydrogen gas for 6 weeks had smaller tumors and less cancer cell growth, while lab tests showed hydrogen reduced cancer cell multiplication, movement, and the ability of cancer cells to form new tumors. The results suggest hydrogen may work by targeting cancer stem cells (cells that can regenerate tumors) and blocking the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted in mice and laboratory cells, not in humans. While the results are promising, they do not yet demonstrate that hydrogen would be effective or safe as a cancer treatment in people. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any therapeutic claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: To investigate the potential effects of molecular hydrogen on ovarian cancer. Methods: The in vivo study was performed using Hs38.T xenografted BALB/c nude mice. The mean tumor volume was monitored during 6 weeks of hydrogen inhalation. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed…