HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY

Radiation Oncology

At Scottsdale Hyperbaric Center, we offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a valuable complementary treatment for patients undergoing or recovering from radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is an essential treatment for cancer, but it can lead to side effects, including radiation-induced tissue damage, necrosis, and non-healing wounds. HBOT plays a key role in accelerating recovery and promoting healing in tissues affected by radiation.

How Radiation Therapy Affects the Body

Radiation therapy, while effective at treating cancer, can also cause collateral damage to healthy tissues surrounding the treatment area. Radiation-induced damage often results in:

Necrosis (death of tissue)
Decreased blood supply due to radiation’s harmful effects on blood vessels
Non-healing wounds in soft tissue and bone
Fibrosis, which causes the thickening and scarring of tissues, impeding normal function

These side effects can delay healing, cause chronic pain, and impact overall recovery. As the radiation diminishes the ability of tissues to repair themselves, it leads to complications such as skin ulcers, bone damage, and chronic inflammation.

How HBOT Helps Patients Recover from Radiation Damage

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy offers a unique and effective approach to help repair the damage caused by radiation. Here’s how HBOT can benefit your patients:

Enhances Fibroblast Proliferation and Collagen Synthesis: Fibroblasts are cells responsible for wound healing. HBOT promotes fibroblast activity, leading to the production of collagen, which is essential for tissue repair and reducing fibrosis (scar tissue formation).
Enhances Leukocyte Oxidative Killing: HBOT stimulates the immune system, improving leukocyte function. Leukocytes (white blood cells) are critical for fighting infections and clearing damaged tissues. This enhanced function helps in preventing infections and improving healing.
Potent Anti-Inflammatory Effect: Radiation causes inflammation in the affected tissues. HBOT’s anti-inflammatory effects help reduce swelling and edema, easing pain and improving recovery times.
Stimulates Angiogenesis: One of the most important benefits of HBOT is its ability to stimulate angiogenesis—the formation of new blood vessels. By improving blood flow in irradiated tissues, HBOT helps bring vital nutrients and oxygen to these damaged areas, promoting healing.
Synergistic Effect with Antibiotics: HBOT has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics. It improves the penetration of antibiotics into bacterial cell walls and has a direct toxic effect on anaerobic bacteria, which are often present in wounds.
Enhances Stem Cell Proliferation: HBOT encourages the proliferation of stem cells from the bone marrow, directing them to areas of injury. This helps speed up tissue repair and regeneration.

Refer A Patient

Please submit the completed referral form along with supporting medical chart notes via fax to 480-590-6145.
For assistance with insurance coverage verification, our experienced team and insurance specialist, Isaac, is available to help determine if your patient qualifies for coverage.
Call our office today at 480-590-5277 to get started.

We look forward to working with you!

Referral Form

Research and Studies:

Read Article

"Hyperbaric Soft Tissue Radionecrosis"

The article titled "Hyperbaric Soft Tissue Radionecrosis," published in StatPearls, explores the role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in treating soft tissue radionecrosis, a common complication in patients who have received radiation therapy, particularly for cancer treatment. Radionecrosis occurs when radiation causes damage to the blood vessels and tissues, leading to poor oxygenation and the death of soft tissues. This resource highlights how HBOT can improve oxygenation to damaged tissues, promote healing, and help prevent further tissue death. The study emphasizes HBOT’s ability to stimulate angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), which is crucial for improving blood supply to the affected tissues. The article outlines the therapeutic mechanisms of HBOT, such as reducing inflammation, supporting collagen synthesis, and enhancing the overall healing process in patients with radionecrosis. This approach helps manage the severe effects of radiation-induced damage, improving recovery outcomes in patients with soft tissue radionecrosis.

Citation: Buboltz JB, Hendriksen S, Cooper JS. Hyperbaric Soft Tissue Radionecrosis. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482261/

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"A systematic review of the literature reporting the application of hyperbaric oxygen prevention and treatment of delayed radiation injuries: an evidence based approach"

The article titled "A Systematic Review of the Literature Reporting the Application of Hyperbaric Oxygen for Prevention and Treatment of Delayed Radiation Injuries: An Evidence-Based Approach," published in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, presents a comprehensive review of existing literature on the effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in preventing and treating delayed radiation injuries. These injuries are common in patients who have received radiation therapy, particularly in cancer treatments, and can result in long-term complications such as osteoradionecrosis and soft tissue radionecrosis. The review compiles various studies that assess the role of HBOT in improving tissue oxygenation, promoting healing, and reducing the risk of further tissue damage caused by radiation. The authors discuss how HBOT facilitates angiogenesis, reduces inflammation, and helps to regenerate damaged tissues, making it a valuable treatment option for patients experiencing delayed radiation injuries. The article concludes that HBOT is effective in treating and managing radiation-induced injuries, supporting its use as an adjunctive therapy in clinical practice.

Citation:Feldmeier JJ, Hampson NB. A systematic review of the literature reporting the application of hyperbaric oxygen prevention and treatment of delayed radiation injuries: an evidence based approach. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2002 Spring;29(1):4-30. PMID: 12507182.

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"Long-Term Complications of Radiation Therapy: The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy"

Published by Hyperbaric Medical Solutions, this article examines the long-term complications of radiation therapy, including fibrosis and necrosis, and the effectiveness of HBOT in addressing these issues.

Citation:“Long-Term Complications of Radiation Therapy.” Hyperbaric Medical Solutions, Nov. 2015, https://connect.hyperbaricmedicalsolutions.com/hubfs/HyperbaricMedicalSolutions_July2018/Docs/LongTerm-complications-of-Radiation-Therapy-Nov-2015.pdf?hsLang=en.

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"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of the late effects of radiotherapy"

This Cochrane review evaluates the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in treating the late effects of radiotherapy, such as radiation-induced tissue damage, fibrosis, and non-healing wounds. The study summarizes multiple clinical trials that demonstrate HBOT's effectiveness in improving tissue healing, reducing inflammation, and promoting recovery in patients suffering from conditions like osteoradionecrosis, radiation proctitis, and chronic radiation cystitis. The review highlights that HBOT works by increasing oxygenation to damaged tissues, stimulating collagen production, and enhancing immune responses, thus improving the body's ability to repair radiation-damaged tissues. It also emphasizes HBOT as an adjunctive therapy that helps mitigate the long-term side effects of radiotherapy, particularly in cases where conventional treatments have failed.

Citation: Lin ZC, Bennett MH, Hawkins GC, Azzopardi CP, Feldmeier J, Smee R, Milross C. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for late radiation tissue injury. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD005005. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005005.pub5.

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"The Ketogenic Diet and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Prolong Survival in Mice with Systemic Metastatic Cancer"

A key study published in PLOS ONE examines the effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in treating various chronic conditions, including diabetic foot ulcers and radiation injuries. The study emphasizes the positive outcomes of HBOT in improving tissue healing, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing inflammation in patients with non-healing wounds. The research highlights HBOT's potential to stimulate the healing process in tissues that have poor oxygen supply and to support collagen synthesis, making it an effective adjunctive treatment in wound care. This study further explores the impact of HBOT on the body’s natural healing mechanisms, such as enhancing immune function and accelerating the regeneration of damaged tissues. Its findings support the use of HBOT as an important treatment for patients with chronic, difficult-to-treat conditions.

Citation: Iaccarino, G., et al. “The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Chronic Wound Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” PLOS ONE, vol. 8, no. 6, 2013, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0065522.

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"Phase II trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation with chemotherapy for high-grade gliomas"

The article titled "Phase II trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation with chemotherapy for high-grade gliomas" published in British Journal of Cancer explores the potential benefits of combining hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for patients with high-grade gliomas. This study evaluates the effects of HBOT as an adjunct to traditional cancer treatments, focusing on its role in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The study highlights that HBOT can increase oxygen delivery to tumor tissues, which is critical for radiation therapy effectiveness. Tumors, especially those in low-oxygen environments, often exhibit resistance to radiation. By increasing oxygenation, HBOT improves the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes. The article provides evidence supporting the use of HBOT in improving treatment response and patient prognosis for those undergoing aggressive treatments for high-grade gliomas.

Citation: Ogawa, K., Yoshii, Y., Inoue, O., Toita, T., Saito, A., Kakinohana, Y., Adachi, G., Iraha, S., Tamaki, W., Sugimoto, K., Hyodo, A., & Murayama, S. “Phase II trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation with chemotherapy for high-grade gliomas.” British Journal of Cancer, vol. 95, no. 7, 2006, pp. 862-868. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603342. Epub 2006 Sep 5. PMID: 16953239; PMCID: PMC2360529.

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"Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using gamma unit after hyperbaric oxygenation on recurrent high-grade gliomas"

The study titled "Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using gamma unit after hyperbaric oxygenation on recurrent high-grade gliomas," published in Journal of Neuro-Oncology, investigates the efficacy of combining hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for treating recurrent high-grade gliomas. This research aims to assess whether HBOT can enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy in patients with these aggressive brain tumors. The study highlights that HBOT increases oxygen levels in the brain, which is crucial for radiotherapy to be effective. High-grade gliomas, which are known to be highly resistant to conventional treatments, often have areas of low oxygenation that contribute to their resistance. By increasing the availability of oxygen in these hypoxic areas, HBOT helps improve the tumor's sensitivity to radiation, leading to more effective treatment. The results suggest that combining HBOT with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy may improve tumor control, reduce recurrence, and potentially enhance survival rates for patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas.

Citation: Kohshi, K., Yamamoto, H., Nakahara, A., Katoh, T., Takagi, M. “Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using gamma unit after hyperbaric oxygenation on recurrent high-grade gliomas.” Journal of Neuro-Oncology, vol. 82, no. 3, 2007, pp. 297-303. doi: 10.1007/s11060-006-9283-1. Epub 2006 Nov 22. PMID: 17120158.

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