Hydrogen gas activates coenzyme Q10 to restore exhausted CD8+ T cells, especially PD-1+Tim3+terminal CD8+ T cells, leading to better nivolumab outcomes in patients with lung cancer.
Junji Akagi, Hideo Baba · Oncology letters · 2020
Research-use notice
Independent study record
Each H2HUBB study page organizes source-linked research details for educational use. Interpretation should remain proportional to the study design, population, controls, and limitations.
H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
In 42 patients with lung cancer, following hydrogen gas treatment, the concentration of CoQ10 was increased in 19 (46%) of 41 patients (Table IV). These findings add human evidence that helps define the outcomes that did and did not change with molecular hydrogen in this study.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how inhaled hydrogen gas affected the outcomes measured in 42 patients with lung cancer. Following hydrogen gas treatment, the concentration of CoQ10 was increased in 19 (46%) of 41 patients (Table IV).
What the Researchers Studied
The researchers studied 42 patients with lung cancer. The study used a human clinical study.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
A total of 42 of 56 patients with lung cancer treated with nivolumab received hydrogen gas. The 42 patients treated with hydrogen gas and nivolumab (HGN) indicated a significantly longer overall survival (OS) compared with those treated with nivolumab only (n=14). Following hydrogen gas treatment, the concentration of CoQ10 was increased in 19 (46%) of 41 patients (Table IV). The authors concluded that hydrogen gas has been suggested to enhance the clinical efficacy of nivolumab by increasing CoQ10 (mitochondria) to reduce PDT+, with PDT+ and CoQ10 as reliable negative and positive biomarkers of nivolumab, respectively. Chi Q, Wang D, Hu X, Li S and Li S: Hydrogen sulfide gas expo‑ sure induces necroptosis and promotes inflammation through the MAPK/NF‑ κB pathway in broiler spleen. Herein, the researchers investigated whether hydrogen gas, an activator of PGC1‑α, is able to enhance the clinical effect of nivolumab, and what its mechanism might be.
Why These Findings Matter
This publication adds useful evidence about where molecular hydrogen did and did not change the measured outcomes, helping define the larger therapeutic evidence base.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is human clinical evidence from a human clinical study. H2HUBB interprets the findings in the context of the study design, sample, comparator, and measured outcomes rather than using one publication as a verdict on hydrogen therapy.
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as human clinical study with human clinical evidence. The research population or model was 42 patients with lung cancer. The reported sample size was 56. The study used a human clinical study. The hydrogen delivery method was inhaled hydrogen gas.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the current-study source text available to H2HUBB.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base. The original scholarly source is available at https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ol.2020.12121/download.