Ozone Treatment Inhibits Proliferation in Human Neuroblastoma SK-N-SH Cells

Tissue hypoxia results from an inadequate supply of oxygen (O2) that compromises biologic functions. Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that intratumoral oxygen levels may influence a series of biologic parameters affecting the tumor’s malignant potential. Indeed, sustained hypoxia in a growing tumour may cause cellular changes that can result in a more clinically aggressive phenotype. During the last two decades it has been shown that ozonated autohemotherapy is therapeutically useful in arteriopathic patients because it increases oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissues, leading to normoxia. Although several oxygenation approaches have been tested, none is able to restore normoxia permanently in cancer. Since a prolonged cycle of ozonated autohemotherapy has been postulated to correct tumor hypoxia leading to a less aggressive behavior, we studied whether ozone treatment could affect cell growth and cell cycle perturbations on the human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cell line. These data indicate that ozone acts as a real chemical drug capable of inhibiting cell growth suggesting its possible antineoplastic role in neuroblastoma cancer.