Hypoxia, a fundamental characteristic of solid tumors, not only promotes tumor development but also makes tumor cells resistant to various treatment methods.
However, the current research hotspot - hyperbaric oxygen therapy, may open up a new treatment window for us. The team led by Li Zifu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology published a paper titled "Hyperbaric oxygen: a multifaceted approach in cancer therapy" in the journal "Medical Gas Research" (DOI: 10.4103/mgr. MEDGASRES-D-23-00028), which delved into the multiple mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen in cancer treatment.
Research has found that hyperbaric oxygen can significantly improve cancer treatment efficacy in four ways: firstly, by reducing fibronectin and collagen I in the tumor area, improving the tumor microenvironment, and helping drugs penetrate and accumulate more deeply in the tumor; The second is to directly inhibit cancer stem cells and cancer metastasis; The third is to break the immune suppression caused by hypoxia and assist the immune system in attacking tumor cells; The fourth is to synergistically induce nanoparticles with reactive oxygen species, increase oxidative stress within cancer cells, and trigger their apoptosis.
The versatility of hyperbaric oxygen not only highlights its enormous potential in cancer treatment, but also provides a new perspective for solving clinical problems such as chemotherapy resistance, immunotherapy failure, tumor metastasis and recurrence. Although the specific molecular mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen need further clarification, such as the reduction mechanism of cancer-related fibroblasts and extracellular matrix, and the selective inhibition mechanism of cancer stem cells, current research has revealed the important role of hyperbaric oxygen in cancer treatment. Currently, multiple clinical trials on hyperbaric oxygen are underway. We look forward to this innovative treatment method bringing more hope and opportunities to cancer patients, injecting new vitality into the field of cancer treatment.