“No evidence exists that HBOT promotes cancer growth or recurrence. In contrast, some data suggest potential tumor inhibition.”

M. Bennett, J. Feldmeier, R. Smee, C. Milross, Hyperbaric oxygenation for tumour sensitisation to radiotherapy: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials, Cancer Treatment Reviews, Volume 34, Issue 7, 2008, Pages 577-591, ISSN 0305-7372, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2008.01.001.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305737208000029)

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“We found evidence that HBOT improves local tumour control, mortality, and local tumour recurrence for cancers of the head and neck.”

Bennett MH, Feldmeier J, Smee R, Milross C. Hyperbaric oxygenation for tumour sensitisation to radiotherapy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4(4):CD005007. Published 2018 Apr 11. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005007.pub4​​​

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“No evidence was found to suggest HBOT contributes to tumor progression, recurrence, or metastasis.”

Canarslan Demir K, Avci AU, Ozgok Kangal MK, Ceylan B, Abayli SY, Ozler I, Yilmaz KB. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Managing Cancer Treatment Complications: A Safety Evaluation. Medicina. 2025; 61(3):385. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61030385

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“HBO therapy did not enhance tumor growth and exhibited adjuvant effects to chemotherapy and radiotherapy through inhibiting GBM stemness.”

Yuen C-M, Tsai H-P, Tseng T-T, Tseng Y-L, Lieu A-S, Kwan A-L, Chang AYW. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy through Inhibiting Stemness in Glioblastoma. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2023; 45(10):8309-8320. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45100524

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“Based on the present as well as previous reviews, there is no evidence indicating that HBO neither acts as a stimulator of tumor growth nor as an enhancer of recurrence. On the other hand, there is evidence that implies that HBO might have tumor‑inhibitory effects in certain cancer subtypes.”

Moen I, Stuhr LE. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cancer--a review. Target Oncol. 2012;7(4):233-242. doi:10.1007/s11523-012-0233-x

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“Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), an approved adjuvant therapy for alleviating hypoxia clinically, is an excellent choice for enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatment that is impeded by tumor hypoxia.”

Li, Z.-H., Zhang, X. and Wu, F.-G. (2024), Hyperbaric Oxygen-Facilitated Cancer Treatment: A Minireview. Adv. NanoBiomed Res., 4: 2300162. https://doi.org/10.1002/anbr.202300162

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“Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) can be used as an adjuvant therapy to inhibit tumors by improving the hypoxic microenvironment. A recent study showed that hyperbaric medicine in mice with lung cancer improves the anoxic state of tumors, promotes tumor cell apoptosis, and inhibits tumor growth.”

Chen, Zhou & Han, Fangfang & Du, Yan & Shi, Huaqing & Zhou, Wence. (2023). Hypoxic microenvironment in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 8. 70. 10.1038/s41392-023-01332-8. 

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“As a dangerous factor, hypoxia activates multiple signaling pathways to reshape the immune microenvironment, leading to immunosuppression.”

Hu J, Li X, Yang L, Li H. Hypoxia, a key factor in the immune microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022;151:113068. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113068

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“By targeting multiple aspects of tumor progression, HBO has the potential to suppress CSCs and cancer metastasis, normalize tumor mechanics and blood vessels, …”

Deng, Qingyuan; Yang, Xiangliang; Li, Zifu*. Hyperbaric oxygen: a multifaceted approach in cancer therapy. Medical Gas Research 14(3):p 130-132, September 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/mgr.MEDGASRES-D-23-00028 

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​“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy regulates the tumor microenvironment through various pathways such as improving tumor hypoxia, targeting hypoxia‐inducing factors, and generating reactive oxygen species. The change in the tumor microenvironment ultimately affects the curative effect of immunotherapy.”

Wang P, Wang XY, Man CF, Gong DD, Fan Y. Advances in hyperbaric oxygen to promote immunotherapy through modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1200619. Published 2023 Sep 15. doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1200619

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“High expression of HIF1a was significantly correlated to every gene we tested: bFGF (P = .04), VEGF (P = .02), and PDGFA (P = .03). … Tumor size … and high HIF1a mRNA expression … had a significant impact on survival (P = .009).”  

• HIF‑1α is a central mediator of hypoxia-driven tumor progression, activating VEGF, bFGF, and PDGFA to promote angiogenesis, growth, and worse clinical outcomes.

• As HBOT directly reverses tumor hypoxia, it may suppress the HIF‑1α pathway and downstream pro‑tumor signals.

​Hoffmann AC, Mori R, Vallbohmer D, et al. High expression of HIF1a is a predictor of clinical outcome in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and correlated to PDGFA, VEGF, and bFGF. Neoplasia. 2008;10(7):674-679. doi:10.1593/neo.08292​

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“GBM’s hypoxic microenvironment has been shown to be highly associated with aggressive biology and resistance to RT and CT. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may increase anticancer therapy sensitivity by increasing oxygen tension within the hypoxic regions of the neoplastic tissue. ... Several hypoxia‑targeting strategies reported that HBOT showed the most significant effect that could potentially improve RT outcomes, with higher response rates and survival and no serious adverse events. However, further prospective and randomized studies are necessary to validate HBOT’s effectiveness in the ‘real world’ GBM clinical practice.”

Arpa D, Parisi E, Ghigi G, et al. Role of Hyperbaric Oxygenation Plus Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Recurrent High-Grade Glioma. Front Oncol. 2021;11:643469. Published 2021 Mar 30. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.643469

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​“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may improve the sensitivity of radio‑chemotherapy by increasing oxygen tension within the hypoxic regions of the neoplastic tissue.”

Huang L, Boling W, Zhang JH. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as adjunctive strategy in treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. Med Gas Res. 2018;8(1):24-28. Published 2018 Apr 18. doi:10.4103/2045-9912.229600

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“Several hypoxia‑targeting strategies reported that HBOT showed the most significant effect that could potentially improve RT outcomes, with higher response rates and survival and no serious adverse events.”

Alpuim Costa D, Sampaio-Alves M, Netto E, et al. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Complementary Treatment in Glioblastoma-A Scoping Review. Front Neurol. 2022;13:886603. Published 2022 Jul 1. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.886603