Hydrogen-rich water exerts anti-tumor effects comparable to 5-fluorouracil in a colorectal cancer xenograft model

Figure 1 Hydrogen, 5-fluorouracil and their combination reduced tumor growth and tumor weight in a murine model of colorectal cancer. A: Tumor size; B: Tumor weight change in mice treated with hydrogen-rich water (HRW), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and their combination. P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 compared to control, P < 0.01 compared to 5-FU, P < 0.05 compared to HRW and P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 compared to combination groups; n = 6 per group. a: P < 0.05 compare to control; b: P < 0.01 compare to control; c: P < 0.001 compare to control; d: P < 0.05 compare to H₂; e: P < 0.01 compare to 5-FU. H₂: Hydrogen; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil.

Figure 2 Effects of hydrogen and 5-fluorouracil on the oxidative stress index in colorectal cancer. A: Malondialdehyde; B: Total thiol; C: Superoxide dismutase; D: Catalase activity. P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 compared to control, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 compared to 5-fluorouracil, P < 0.001 compared to hydrogen groups; n = 6 per group. a: P < 0.05 compare to control; b: P < 0.01 compare to control; c: P < 0.001 compare to control; d: P < 0.05 compare to H₂; e: P < 0.001 compare to H₂; f: P < 0.001 compare to 5-FU. H₂: Hydrogen; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; MDA: Malondialdehyde; CAT: Catalase.

Figure 3 Hydrogen and 5-fluorouracil induce necrosis in tumor tissue of colorectal cancer. A: Hematoxylin-Eosin staining of tumor sections revealed that hydrogen (H₂) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) induce necrosis; B: Percent of tumor necrosis. P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 compared to control, P < 0.001 compared to 5-FU, P < 0.01 compared to H₂ groups; n = 6 per group. a: P < 0.05 compare to control; b: P < 0.01 compare to control; c: P < 0.001 compare to control; d: P < 0.001 compare to 5-FU. H₂: Hydrogen; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil; T: Tumor cells; N: Necrotic area.

Figure 4 Hydrogen and 5-fluorouracil attenuate fibrosis in tumor tissue of colorectal cancer. A: Trichrome staining of tumor samples revealed that hydrogen (H₂) suppresses fibrosis in the murine model of colorectal cancer (collagen fiber accumulation appears in blue); B: Tumor fibrosis expressed as collagen content (%) in different groups. P < 0.001 compared to control, P < 0.001 compared to 5-fluorouracil, P <0.01 compared to H₂ groups; n = 6 per group. a: P < 0.001 compare to control; b: P < 0.001 compare to 5-FU; c: P < 0.001 compare to H2. H₂: Hydrogen; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil.