Fucoidan and cancer: a multifunctional molecule with anti-tumor potential

There is a wide variety of cancer types yet, all share some common cellular and molecular behaviors. Most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment are designed to target common deregulated mechanisms within cancer cells. Many healthy tissues are also affected by the cytotoxic effects...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine drugs 2015-04, Vol.13 (4), p.2327-2346
Main Authors: Atashrazm, Farzaneh, Lowenthal, Ray M, Woods, Gregory M, Holloway, Adele F, Dickinson, Joanne L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - adverse effects
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Animals
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - administration & dosage
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - adverse effects
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - pharmacology
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use
apoptosis
Apoptosis - drug effects
cancer
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - drug effects
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
Drugs, Investigational - administration & dosage
Drugs, Investigational - adverse effects
Drugs, Investigational - pharmacology
Drugs, Investigational - therapeutic use
fucoidan
Functional Food - analysis
Humans
MAP Kinase Signaling System - drug effects
Marine
Models, Biological
Neoplasm Metastasis - prevention & control
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Neoplasms - metabolism
Neoplasms - pathology
Phaeophyceae - chemistry
Polysaccharides - administration & dosage
Polysaccharides - adverse effects
Polysaccharides - pharmacology
Polysaccharides - therapeutic use
Review
Seaweed - chemistry
synergy
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Summary:There is a wide variety of cancer types yet, all share some common cellular and molecular behaviors. Most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment are designed to target common deregulated mechanisms within cancer cells. Many healthy tissues are also affected by the cytotoxic effects of these chemical agents. Fucoidan, a natural component of brown seaweed, has anti-cancer activity against various cancer types by targeting key apoptotic molecules. It also has beneficial effects as it can protect against toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Thus the synergistic effect of fucoidan with current anti-cancer agents is of considerable interest. This review discusses the mechanisms by which fucoidan retards tumor development, eradicates tumor cells and synergizes with anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Challenges to the development of fucoidan as an anti-cancer agent will also be discussed.
ISSN:1660-3397
1660-3397
DOI:10.3390/md13042327