We all get a shiver when we hear the term cancer. Most cancers are a fatal disease, but in some cases it can be completely cured. However, it is associated with significant morbidity for the patient. There is so much psychological stress for patients. Scientists are investing a lot of time in research to discover new and effective therapies to fight different types of cancer.

Molecular hydrogen is a promising therapy that is poised to revolutionise cancer treatment.

What is cancer?

Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin to multiply uncontrollably. These rapidly dividing cells are supplied with more blood. Therefore, new blood vessels are formed, this is called angiogenesis.

When cancer cells start to break away from their place of origin and spread to other tissues, this is called cancer metastasis. It usually occurs in the last stages of cancer.

There are different types of cancer depending on the tissue of origin, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, bone cancer, etc. These are further divided according to the cell type such as squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma and others.

Various causes lead to the development of cancer. Some may be genetic, such as breast cancer, others may be caused by environmental factors, radiation, viruses or bacteria, and sometimes no cause can be found.

Hydrogen for cancer therapy

Most cancer drugs aim to kill cancer cells by various methods. But these drugs have many side effects and they can also kill healthy cells. For this reason, many patients stop their treatment and some even decide not to have chemotherapy. There is a great need for an effective and also inexpensive therapy without side effects. Let's look at how hydrogen came into the picture.

Scientists discovered the effects of hydrogen on cancer treatment back in 1975, before hydrogen was recognised as a therapeutic gas (which happened in 2007).

In this original research from the 1970s, hairless albino mice with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin were exposed to a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen for a fortnight. The scientists found that the skin cancer regressed significantly, and they suggested the possible use of hyperbaric hydrogen therapy to treat other cancers as well.

However, this research went unnoticed for several decades until 2007, when a Japanese scientist discovered the antioxidant properties of hydrogen and suggested its use as a therapeutic gas. Since then, there have been hundreds of research studies on this amazing gas, leading to the discovery of new properties of hydrogen such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-allergic properties.

How does hydrogen cause anti-tumour effects?

According to Chen Y et al, hydrogen has anti-tumour properties. This is thought to be due to its antioxidant effect, i.e. free radicals are neutralised. These oxygen free radicals are considered to be the cause of diseases in the human body. Tumour cells release these free radicals and sometimes tumours need these free radicals as signalling molecules.

What is the evidence that hydrogen can treat cancer?

Scientists have either created a cell culture with cancer cells or use mouse models to test the effectiveness of hydrogen on cancer therapy.

In a study conducted on human tongue cancer cells, scientists discovered that hydrogen dissolved in water was able to selectively inhibit the growth of these cancer cells. It also led to reduced levels of free radicals. Hydrogen is considered a novel treatment for human tongue cancer.

Hydrogen has also been used to treat colon cancer cell lines

The effect was dose-dependent, with higher concentrations of hydrogen being most effective.

In one study, hydrogen was used to treat several types of cancer, including human lung adenocarcinoma, uterine cancer and cervical cancer. There is evidence that hydrogen can stop metastasis and thus improve survival.

Hydrogen-rich saline was given to mice that had radiation-induced thymic lymphoma. The results indicated that hydrogen therapy could slow cancer growth as well as prolong the latency period.

It was discovered that the active ingredient in electrolysed reduced water is hydrogen. There have been several researches on its effectiveness.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signalling molecule that plays an important role in tumour angiogenesis. Cells are exposed to higher oxidative stress and when electrolysed reduced water was added, the production of VEGF decreased. It is assumed that this happens by influencing the genes. By reducing angiogenesis, tumour growth can be delayed.

When this water is supplied to leukaemia cells, it leads to apoptosis or death of these cells. The effect is mediated by the mitochondria. Since hydrogen is a small gas that can diffuse to any location, it can reach the mitochondria and exert its effect.

Hydrogen as a therapy to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy

Hydrogen can not only act directly on cancer cells, but is also thought to reduce the side effects that can occur from chemotherapy and radiation.

Ionising radiation often causes damage to normal tissues, especially the lungs, heart and other organs, during radiotherapy for cancer. These radiotoxic effects are mainly due to the production of hydroxide radicals. Several studies have used hydrogen to protect against radiation damage in a variety of animal tissues, including skin, intestine, lung, heart, brain, bone marrow, testis and other tissues. Bone marrow is the most damaged by radiation.

Hydrogen was found to have a radioprotective effect in such human cells. But hydrogen did not affect the anti-tumour effect of radiation.

Is hydrogen safe?

Hydrogen is considered safe when consumed within recommended doses.

Because it is a relatively inexpensive therapy, hydrogen can be used in cancer to directly target cancer cells and reduce the side effects associated with cancer treatment.

References

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