Abstract: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Although a variety of cancer therapies, such as surgical resection and local ablation, chemoembolization, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy, have developed rapidly in recent years, the curative effect and 5 year-survival rate of cancer remain to be unsatisfactory. In recent years, with the deepening basic research of hydrogen, its role on the treatment of various diseases including cancer has attracted an increased attention. Hydrogen can promote the apoptosis of colon cancer cells, and which combined with 5- fluorouracil has a synergistic effect and can reduce the renal toxicity induced by cisplatin, without affecting its anti-tumor effect. Hydrogen can alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy, significantly improve the quality of life for patients with liver cancer, and does not affect the effect of radiotherapy. Hydrogen application provides a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of cancer. The specific mechanism of hydrogen in cancer treatment needs further study. This article reviewes the research progress of the role of hydrogen on the treatment of cancer, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and the regulation of signaling pathways.

Key words: hydrogen, neoplasms, therapy, review