The anticancer effects and mechanisms of fucoxanthin combined with other drugs
Zhengchao Wang1,2, Hongmei Li3, Minghao Dong1,2
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Purpose:
Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a characteristic carotenoid present in brown seaweed that has been shown to have various benefits, including anticancer effects. In vitro studies demonstrated these various effects, including the suppression of cell viability, the promotion of apoptosis, and antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic activity. Interestingly, combinations of Fx with other drugs have better effects than either Fx or other drugs alone. Although the antiproliferative and cancer prevention activities of the combination of Fx and other drugs are still unclear, several effects have been discovered, including the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at G1/G0, enhanced gap junctional intercellular communication, and the induction of autophagy via various mechanisms, such as decreasing P-gp, activating the CYP3A4 promoter, increasing reactive oxygen species and cellular uptake and suppressing the PI3K/Akt/NFκB pathway. In this review, we address the anticancer effects and mechanisms of the combination of Fx and other drugs in different types of cancer.
Methods:
The relevant literature from PubMed and Web of Science databases is reviewed in this article.
Results:
Fx combined with other drugs could enhance the effect of both Fx and the other drug or reduce the dose without reducing the effect, which may create more effective and less harmful therapeutic strategies.
Conclusion:
Fx combined with other drugs has significant anticancer effects by various mechanisms and could be a potential therapeutic strategy for different types of cancer.
Insights
Fucoxanthin (Fx) combined with other drugs shows significant anticancer effects. This combination enhances therapeutic strategies, potentially reducing drug dosage while maintaining efficacy for various cancers.
Area of Science:
- Marine natural products chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Cancer biology
Background:
- Fucoxanthin (Fx), a carotenoid from brown seaweed, exhibits anticancer properties.
- In vitro studies show Fx suppresses cell viability, induces apoptosis, and possesses antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic activities.
- Combinations of Fx with other drugs demonstrate synergistic or additive anticancer effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the anticancer effects and mechanisms of Fucoxanthin (Fx) in combination with other drugs.
- To explore the potential of Fx drug combinations as a therapeutic strategy for various cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies from PubMed and Web of Science databases.
- Analysis of documented anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of Fx drug combinations.
Main Results:
- Fx combined with other drugs can enhance the efficacy of both agents or allow for reduced dosing.
- These combinations offer potential for more effective and less toxic cancer therapeutic strategies.
- Observed mechanisms include apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, enhanced gap junctional intercellular communication, and autophagy.
Conclusions:
- Fucoxanthin (Fx) in combination with other drugs exhibits significant anticancer effects through diverse mechanisms.
- This combination represents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating various types of cancer.
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