Hyperbaric oxygenation for tumour sensitisation to radiotherapy

Abstract

Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Better health.

Hyperoxygenation as a Therapeutic Supplement for Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

“…Radiation therapy is a widely used modality for cancer treatment ( 8 ); however, it is non-specific and can cause damage to any cell, regardless of whether it is cancerous or healthy ( 9 ). The effect of radiation-induced cell killing can be amplified under certain conditions using radiation sensitizers ( 10 – 14 ). Molecular oxygen is an endogenous radiation sensitizer in tissues, including tumors, and hence tissue oxygen (pO 2 ) is a critical factor in determining the efficacy of radiation ( 11 , 14 , 15 ).…”

“…The effect of radiation-induced cell killing can be amplified under certain conditions using radiation sensitizers ( 10 – 14 ). Molecular oxygen is an endogenous radiation sensitizer in tissues, including tumors, and hence tissue oxygen (pO 2 ) is a critical factor in determining the efficacy of radiation ( 11 , 14 , 15 ). Locally advanced solid tumors are mostly low in oxygen (hypoxic), and the lack of oxygen has been implicated in causing radiation resistance and treatment failure ( 16 – 18 ).…”

“…Accordingly, there has been several efforts to mitigate tumor hypoxia during radiation treatment ( 21 , 22 ). Administration of hyperoxygen, usually by breathing or exposure to higher (>21%) oxygen at normobaric or hyperbaric conditions, has been studied in the clinic for over 4 decades to improve radiation efficacy ( 14 , 23 ); however, neither a standard protocol for optimal efficacy nor adoption of it in clinical practice has been implemented as a standard care in the radiation oncology clinics. A Phase III clinical trial ( 24 ), named accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide (ARCON) for the treatment of laryngeal cancer, reported some beneficial effect of hyperoxygenation for severely hypoxic tumors and concluded tumor oxygen is an important parameter to be measured for individual patients for the selection of effective treatment options.…”

The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Pelvic Radiation Induced Gastrointestinal Complications (Rectal Bleeding, Diarrhea, and Pain): A Meta-Analysis

“…The current interventions to alleviate acute and chronic adverse gastrointestinal effects following pelvic radiotherapy include pharmacological interventions (mucosal protectants, anti-inflammatory agents, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) and non-pharmacological interventions such as probiotics, nutritional interventions, and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy (11). Among these options, HBO therapy is the only physical treatment that promotes both tissue healing and angiogenesis through improving oxygen and blood supply as well as anti-inflammatory effects (12)(13)(14). The utilization of HBO therapy as an effective method to treat radiationinduced tissue damage could be traced back to the early 1970s (15).…”

“…Recently, it had been utilized as a recognized treatment option for PRD, and systematic reviews concluded that it did not promote cancer growth or recurrence (16,17). During the HBO treatments, patients are placed in a compression chamber with elevated oxygen levels at increased barometric pressure, allowing oxygen delivery at a greatly increased pressure to the tissues, mobilizing stem cells, promoting tissue healing, and angiogenesis (13,14).…”