Effect of Fucoidan Dietary Supplement on the Chemotherapy Treatment of Patients with Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer

Abstract

In Japan, S-1 plus cisplatin has become a standard regimen for the treatment of unresectable advanced gastric cancer; however, many patients are unable to continue effective chemotherapy because of the regimen's severe side effects. Thus, control of drug toxicity is key to prolonging patient survival. Fucoidan is a major sulfated polysaccharide found in brown seaweeds and has a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of fucoidan on suppressing the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs. Twenty-four patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer underwent treatment with S-1 plus cisplatin and were randomly allocated into a fucoidan treatment group (n = 12) or a control group without fucoidan treatment (n = 12). The study results demonstrated that fucoidan controlled the occurrence of fatigue during chemotherapy and patients could continue chemotherapy for longer time periods by maintaining the patients' favorable nourishment status. As a result, the survival of patients with fucoidan treatment was longer than that of patients without fucoidan. Thus, fucoidan should be included as a key food supplement for patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas who are suffering from the adverse side effects of chemotherapy.

The natural compound fucoidan from New Zealand Undaria pinnatifida synergizes with the ERBB inhibitor lapatinib enhancing melanoma growth inhibition

“…Fucoidan has been shown to synergize with standard anti-cancer agents and/or reduce their side effects [ 23 ]. For example, fucoidan enhances the efficacy of cisplatin, tamoxifen and paclitaxel [ 36 ] while improving their toxicities [ 37 ]. In our study, we observed a strong synergy between lapatinib and fucoidan such that addition of fucoidan increased the anti-tumor properties of lapatinib and importantly, improved the animal well-being.…”

Antimetastatic Effect of Fucoidan-Sargassum against Liver Cancer Cell Invadopodia Formation via Targeting Integrin αVβ3 and Mediating αVβ3/Src/E2F1 Signaling

“…Fucoidan, which is a fucose-enriched sulfated polysaccharide, is isolated from the extracellular matrix of various species of brown algae and primarily consists of L-fucose and sulfate along with small quantities of D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, and uranic acid 5,6,7; the structure varies among different brown algae species. Accumulating evidence indicates the potential biological functions of fucoidan, including antitumor 8, anti-angiogenesis 9, anticoagulant 10, anti-inflammatory 11, and antioxidant effects 12. In cancer-related research, most studies have shown that fucoidan inhibits cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis 13.…”

Differences in cell death and cell cycle following fucoidan treatment in high-density HT-29 colon cancer cells

“…Fucoidan, a fucose-rich polysaccharide present in brown seaweed, has been revealed to exert various biological effects, including anticancer activities (10). Fucoidan induces tumor cell injury leading to growth arrest and tumor suppression via apoptosis (11). Previous studies have demonstrated that fucoidan is cytotoxic to a number of cancer cell types, and acts to increase apoptosis, and decrease invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis (12–15).…”

“…Fucoidan has been revealed to reduce the toxicity of certain anticancer drugs, and to prolong the survival of patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer (11,19). …”