Xu KC, Kong XF, Qian W, Liang B, Li DG, Korpan NN. Long-term survival in patients with primary malignant brain tumors after postoperative home hydrogen inhalation: Three case reports. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(20): 121466 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.121466]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nikolai N Korpan, MD, PhD, Professor, International Institute of Cryosurgery, Billrothstraße 78, Vienna 1190, Austria. nikolai.korpan@cryosurgery.at
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Oncology
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case-report
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Xu KC, Kong XF, Qian W, Liang B, Li DG, Korpan NN. Long-term survival in patients with primary malignant brain tumors after postoperative home hydrogen inhalation: Three case reports. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(20): 121466 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.121466]
World J Clin Cases. Jul 16, 2026; 14(20): 121466 Published online Jul 16, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.121466
Long-term survival in patients with primary malignant brain tumors after postoperative home hydrogen inhalation: Three case reports
Ke-Cheng Xu, Xiao-Feng Kong, Wei Qian, Bing Liang, Ding-Gang Li, Nikolai N Korpan
Ke-Cheng Xu, Wei Qian, Department of Oncology, Fuda Cancer Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510665, Guangdong Province, China
Xiao-Feng Kong, Institute of Hydrogen Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Translational Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510308, Guangdong Province, China
Bing Liang, Ding-Gang Li, International Center of Oncology, Royal Lee Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou 511065, Guangdong Province, China
Nikolai N Korpan, International Institute of Cryosurgery, Vienna 1190, Austria
Nikolai N Korpan, Department of General Surgery, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
Author contributions: Xu KC and Korpan NN provided the idea for the present study and evaluated the results of real-world evidence, and revised the manuscript; Kong XF, Qian W, and Liang B collected case data and drafted the initial manuscript; Li DG reviewed the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work presented therein.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Nikolai N Korpan, MD, PhD, Professor, International Institute of Cryosurgery, Billrothstraße 78, Vienna 1190, Austria. nikolai.korpan@cryosurgery.at
Received: March 27, 2026 Revised: April 13, 2026 Accepted: June 15, 2026 Published online: July 16, 2026 Processing time: 106 Days and 14.5 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Primary malignant brain tumors [World Health Organization (WHO) Grades III and IV] have poor prognoses despite standard treatment. We report three cases of such tumors with markedly prolonged overall survival (OS) associated with long-term home hydrogen (H2) inhalation after conventional therapy.
CASE SUMMARY
Three patients: One with cerebellar medulloblastoma (MB), one with thalamic glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one with an anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (AOA) evolving from a low-grade glioma, received standard surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, followed by daily home inhalation of H2-oxygen (O2) gas mixture (66.6% H2 and 33.4% O2 at 3 L/minutes) for 4-10 hours/day. Clinical follow-up and serial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. Case 1 (38-year-old female, cerebellar MB, subtotal approximately 70% resection) achieved OS of 52 months; postoperative MRI showed disappearance of the residual lesion. Case 2 (34-year-old female, thalamic GBM) achieved an OS of 38 months with no evidence of recurrence. Case 3 was a 56-year-old male with AOA WHO Grade III, 1p/19q non-codeleted, evolving from WHO Grade I-II astrocytoma, who achieved an OS of 93 months (80 months from the start of H2 inhalation). He maintained independent daily living, and MRI showed no obvious residual tumor. All patients regained normal daily activities and social functioning. The Karnofsky Performance Status score improves to 100 in Cases 1 and 2, and > 80 in Case 3.
CONCLUSION
These three cases of malignant brain tumors, with survival times greatly exceeding published norms, were associated with long-term home H2 inhalation after standard treatment. Given preclinical evidence of H2’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, these findings warrant further investigation of H2 inhalation as a rehabilitation-adjunct therapy in patients with malignant brain tumors.
Core Tip: We report three cases of high-grade brain tumors following standard conventional therapy combined with long-term home-based hydrogen inhalation. All patients achieved stable disease and favorable functional recovery. Their overall survival was markedly prolonged, exceeding the standard prognostic expectations. This simple and safe intervention warrants further clinical investigation.
