Research progress on the anticancer effects of vitamin K2 (Review)

Abstract

Despite the availability of multiple therapeutic methods for patients with cancer, the long-term prognosis is not satisfactory in a number of different cancer types. Vitamin K2 (VK2), which exerts anticancer effects on a number of cancer cell lines, is considered to be a prospective novel agent for the treatment of cancer. The present review aims to summarize the results of studies in which VK2 was administered either to patients with cancer or animals inoculated with cancerous cells, particularly investigating the inhibitory effects of VK2 on cancerous cells, primarily involving cell-cycle arrest, cell differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy and invasion. The present review summarizes evidence stating that treatment with VK2 could positively inhibit the growth of cancer cells, making it a potentially useful approach for the prevention and clinical treatment of cancer. Additionally, the combination treatment of VK2 and established chemotherapeutics may achieve better results, with fewer side effects. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the effects of micronutrients on tumors.

Vitamins and Uterine Fibroids: Current Data on Pathophysiology and Possible Clinical Relevance

“…The authors emphasized that a combination treatment of vitamin K2 and chemotherapeutics could lead to better results with fewer side effects. However, much more data are necessary to draw final conclusions [ 175 ]. Zhong et al (2012) concluded that vitamin K2 significantly improved one-year overall survival in patients with liver cancer [ 176 ].…”

“…Because there are limited studies concerning vitamin K in UFs, we explored some of the possible mechanisms using cancer models that considered its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-carcinogenic properties [174]. Xv et al (2018) concluded that vitamin K2 could positively inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The authors emphasized that a combination treatment of vitamin K2 and chemotherapeutics could lead to better results with fewer side effects.…”

Vitamin K as a Diet Supplement with Impact in Human Health: Current Evidence in Age-Related Diseases

“…A currently active field of research around vitamin K relates to its potential anti-cancer effect. Although this topic will not be explored in this review, vitamin K has been implicated with the inhibition of several neoplastic cell lines mainly by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of cancer cells through various mechanisms [101]. Among the different forms of vitamin K tested, vitamin K2 was shown to inhibit several cancer cell lines without side effects and has been selected as a promising agent for cancer prevention and clinical therapy.…”

The anticarcinogenic potential of milk fat

“…Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) induces apoptosis [48]. Studies of brain, stomach and colon cancer cell lines have shown that vitamin K2 inhibits the cell cycle.…”

“…Laboratory experiments and epidemiological research have demonstrated that vitamin K2 has immense potential for treating various types of cancer. Vitamin K2 inhibits the initiation, promotion and progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells [48]. In various types of lung cancer, including small-cell carcinoma, squamouscell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, vitamin K2 induces apoptosis by activating 'suicide' proteins [53].…”