What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed studies on the potential role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in cancer treatment, including its use with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tumor surgery, and phototherapy.
What They Found
They found that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy improved tumor oxygenation and enhanced the radiation response of many solid tumors. HBO2 also increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and significantly improved tumor response when combined with photodynamic therapy. Furthermore, it was used to treat various delayed radiation injuries affecting soft tissue, bone, bladder, bowel, larynx, optic nerves, and brain.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with certain cancers or radiation-induced injuries might benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment. This therapy could potentially enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and phototherapy, and help manage various post-radiation complications.
Canadian Relevance
This review article does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a review, this study synthesizes existing literature without presenting new primary data, and its conclusions are dependent on the scope and quality of the studies it examined.