What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed published evidence on how several medical gases, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide, can be used in cancer treatment, including how HBOT enhances radiation therapy.
What They Found
HBOT can shrink tumours by increasing oxygen in hypoxic (low-oxygen) tumour tissue, and when combined with radiation therapy, it significantly improves radiation's ability to kill cancer cells. Other gases like nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide show dual effects: they can either support or kill cancer depending on the dose, making precise delivery essential.
Canadian Relevance
HBOT combined with radiation therapy overlaps with OHIP-covered radiation injury indications; the cancer-sensitization angle is investigational but relevant to Ontario patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Study Limitations
This is a narrative review, and most of the promising cancer gas therapies are still in early experimental stages without confirmed human clinical trial evidence.