Scientists in Japan and the UK test hydrogen peroxide injections to boost breast cancer radiotherapy effectiveness with early promising results

Researchers are exploring a surprising method to enhance the effectiveness of breast cancer treatments using a common household disinfectant.

A new technique, involving hydrogen peroxide injections, could be a game-changer for patients battling certain types of breast cancer.

By injecting this compound directly into tumors, it creates a toxic environment that weakens cancer cells, making them more susceptible to radiotherapy.

How Hydrogen Peroxide Works in Cancer Treatment

Hydrogen peroxide, when combined with sodium hyaluronate, forms a gel that is slowly released over a period of 48 hours, providing a sustained effect on the tumor.

This combination is being used in a treatment called Kochi Oxydol Radiation Therapy for Unresectable Carcinoma (KORTUC), which has shown promising results in early trials.

The solution works by creating an oxygen-rich environment that stresses and weakens cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to the radiation therapy that follows.

Positive Results from Initial Studies

Early trials in Japan have already shown significant success with this method.

In one 2021 study published in Molecular and Clinical Oncology, the combination of hydrogen peroxide injections and radiotherapy caused breast tumors to shrink by an impressive 97%.

This success rate is three times higher than that of radiotherapy alone.

The treatment’s effectiveness has led to plans for a new clinical trial in the UK, testing the injections on patients with large or metastatic tumors.

The UK Trial and Its Importance

A UK trial, set to include 184 patients across six hospitals, will assess the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide injections alongside radiotherapy for women with larger breast tumors or cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.

This trial is crucial because, while radiotherapy is often given to patients after surgery to prevent recurrence, it’s less effective on larger tumors or cases where cancer has spread.

Early Results from the Royal Marsden Study

At the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, a smaller study already showed the potential of this treatment.

Twelve women with inoperable breast tumors received hydrogen peroxide injections twice a week for three weeks before radiotherapy.

The results were promising, with the treatment helping to control tumor growth for up to two years in some patients.

These results, published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics in 2020, suggest that this combined approach could offer hope for women who have not responded to other treatments.

The Science Behind the Treatment

Hydrogen peroxide is a well-known compound that is typically used in household cleaning products and antiseptics.

However, it also plays a natural role in the body, acting as a messenger between cells and being produced by every cell.

The hydrogen peroxide solution used in these injections is much weaker than the kind found in household products, at just 0.5%.

Once injected, it breaks down into oxygen and water, creating an oxygen-rich environment that puts stress on the cancer cells and makes them more vulnerable to treatment.

Potential Beyond Breast Cancer

While this treatment is being tested for breast cancer, there is hope that it could be effective for other types of cancer as well.

Professor Yasuhiro Ogawa from Japan invented KORTUC in 2006 for advanced breast cancer and has since tested it on other cancers, including cervical cancer.

In a 2023 study, KORTUC combined with brachytherapy improved the prognosis for patients with recurrent cervical cancer, showing that this method has the potential to benefit a range of cancer types.

Caution and Future Expectations

While the results are promising, experts urge caution.

Clinical oncologist Professor Karol Sikora, based in London, pointed out that the studies conducted so far have been small, and more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness and any potential side effects of this treatment.

He emphasized that the upcoming larger trials will be crucial in determining whether this innovative method can live up to its early success.

The scientific community is eagerly awaiting the results of these larger trials, and the success of this method could significantly impact the way breast cancer—and possibly other cancers—are treated in the future.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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