Molecular mechanism of combination use of hyperbaric oxygen in radiotherapy.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08140
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University (2021-2023); University of the Ryukyus (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Katagiri Chiaki 北海道大学, 薬学研究院, 特任助教 (00443664)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 石内 勝吾 琉球大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10312878) ; 菅原 健一 琉球大学, 病院, 講師 (50375573)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高気圧酸素療法 / 放射線治療 / 認知機能 / 神経保護作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The standard treatment for malignant gliomas is radiation therapy combined with surgical tumor removal and postoperative chemotherapy, but radiation can have the side effect of reducing the patient's cognitive function. In this study, the combination of hyperbaric oxygen therapy demonstrated a neuroprotective effect against radiation-induced neuronal damage and the associated decline in cognitive function using model animals. Radiation was observed to reduce the axonal size and mature spines of neurons in the cerebral white matter region. In contrast, in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy combination group, the axonal length and number of mature spines in the cerebral white matter were maintained at the same level as in the non-irradiated control group, demonstrating the neuroprotective effect of the combination of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高気圧酸素療法は減圧症の治療、末梢循環不全により低酸素環境となった末梢組織の改善や突発性難聴、そして抗がん剤と併用される脳腫瘍の放射線治療に有効であるとし保険適応治療となっている。高気圧酸素療法の研究は臨床試験研究にとどまっており本研究による神経細胞の動態および認知機能への影響を明らかにしたことは学術的に新しい発見であっただけでなく、認知機能低下の予防方法として放射線治療の一助となる。