Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, typically in a specialized chamber where the atmospheric pressure is increased. This therapy is most commonly used to treat conditions such as decompression sickness, chronic non-healing wounds, and carbon monoxide poisoning. In recent years, HBOT has also been investigated for its potential use in cancer care as a complementary or adjunctive treatment, with promising, albeit preliminary, research suggesting several beneficial effects in the management of cancer.
While HBOT is not a direct treatment for cancer, it may offer support in enhancing the effectiveness of other cancer therapies, improving quality of life, and helping manage side effects associated with cancer treatments.
The primary mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves the delivery of increased oxygen concentrations to tissues, which can have several biological effects. In the context of cancer care, these effects may impact both the tumour microenvironment and the body’s response to treatment.
Enhanced Oxygenation of Tumour Tissue: Tumours often have areas of hypoxia (low oxygen levels), which can make them more resistant to treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. These hypoxic conditions may contribute to tumour aggressiveness, angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), and the survival of cancer stem cells.
HBOT increases the oxygen concentration in the blood, which may help to re-oxygenate hypoxic tumour regions, potentially making them more sensitive to radiation (which works by inducing DNA damage that is more effectively repaired in oxygen-rich environments) and chemotherapy (which may be more effective in the presence of adequate oxygen).
Increased Effectiveness of Radiation Therapy: Hypoxia within tumour cells is a major factor in radiation resistance. By increasing oxygen levels, cancer cells in the tumour may become more susceptible to radiation-induced damage. Oxygen can enhance the formation of free radicals, which is essential for the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Some studies suggest that HBOT may increase the radiation dose tolerance of surrounding healthy tissues, potentially enabling the delivery of higher radiation doses while minimizing damage to normal tissues.
Stimulation of Angiogenesis: Increased oxygen levels can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which may aid in the delivery of nutrients and drugs to tumour cells. While HBOT has been suggested to support vascularization in some healing tissues (such as after radiation damage), the effects on tumour angiogenesis are still under investigation.
Reduction in Inflammation and Promotion of Healing: HBOT has been shown to reduce inflammation by modulating the immune response. It can promote the function of immune cells, such as T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells, which are involved in tumour surveillance and cancer cell destruction. It can also aid in the healing of tissue damaged by cancer treatments, particularly radiation therapy. Radiation-induced skin injuries, soft tissue damage, and mucosal injuries can be improved with HBOT, potentially accelerating recovery from treatment-related side effects.
Improved Drug Delivery: HBOT may improve the delivery and effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutic drugs by increasing tissue perfusion and oxygenation. In some cases, it may also increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), potentially enhancing the delivery of chemotherapy drugs to brain tumours.
Support for Cancer Survivors: For cancer survivors, HBOT can be used to manage late-onset side effects from radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery, such as:
Lymphedema
Neuropathy
Chronic wounds or ulcers
Cognitive dysfunction (often referred to as “chemo brain)
It can also reduce fatigue and improve overall quality of life by enhancing oxygen supply to tissues and helping to repair damaged cells.
HBOT is primarily used adjunctively in cancer care, rather than as a primary cancer treatment. Its potential applications include:
Enhancing Radiation Therapy: For cancers that are treated with radiation, HBOT may help enhance the effects of radiation by improving tumour oxygenation. It may be particularly useful in cases of head and neck cancer, breast cancer, or soft tissue sarcomas, where radiation therapy is a mainstay of treatment.
Combating Chemotherapy Resistance: Certain chemotherapy drugs, especially those used in solid tumours, require oxygen to be effective. Hypoxia within tumours may reduce the effectiveness of these drugs. By improving oxygen supply, HBOT could sensitize tumours to chemotherapy, potentially allowing lower doses to be effective.
Managing Radiation-Induced Tissue Damage: One of the most established uses of HBOT in cancer care is to support radiation-induced tissue damage (also known as radiation fibrosis). This includes:
Radiation proctitis (damage to the rectum)
Cystitis (bladder damage)
Radio necrosis (death of tissue due to radiation)
Osteoradionecrosis (bone damage from radiation)
Soft tissue damage (such as wounds that do not heal properly post-radiation)
HBOT can improve the healing process in these areas by stimulating collagen production, enhancing tissue regeneration, and reducing fibrosis.
Treatment of Chronic Wounds and Infections: Cancer patients, particularly those undergoing surgery or radiation, may experience chronic wounds or infections that do not heal properly. HBOT may accelerate the wound healing process and help reduce the risk of infection, as oxygen promotes the function of immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages.
Manage Side Effects of Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, fatigue, and other cognitive dysfunctions may be alleviated by HBOT. Additionally, HBOT may help with muscle weakness or joint pain that often result from prolonged chemotherapy.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) holds significant promise as an adjunctive treatment in cancer care, offering several benefits for enhancing the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy, managing treatment-related side effects, and promoting healing. Its ability to improve oxygen delivery to hypoxic tumour regions, enhance the body’s immune response, and support tissue repair makes it a viable option for patients undergoing cancer treatment, particularly for those dealing with radiation-induced damage or chronic wounds.
At Wellbeing Medical Group, we have specifically designed our therapies with the health of our patients in mind. We work alongside our patients to tailor your dosage to meet your unique medical needs and provide you with consistent support from start to finish.
Your comfort is our top priority, and we pride ourselves on having a calming environment during your therapy. We will support your cancer journey using a range of complementary therapies administered by our expert medical team.
Contact our team today to find out more about how our hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help you and to book a consultation with our integrative oncology care team.
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