Effects of Fucoidan and Chemotherapeutic agent combinations on Malignant and Non-Malignant breast cell lines

Abstract

Breast cancer is currently one of the most common malignancies in women. Fucoidan (FUC) is a natural polysaccharide with anticancer properties. Despite a number of in vitro and in vivo studies reporting the efficacy of fucoidan in treating various cancers, few studies have measured the efficacy of fucoidan in combination with cancer drugs. Drugs like cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol are important in breast cancer treatment. However, in recent years, supplements have gained importance in its treatment. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide mainly found in brown algae and seaweed, is a new candidate for breast cancer therapy because of its antitumour activity. This study was aimed at determining the cytotoxic, apoptotic and cell cycle distribution effects of fucoidan and its synergistic and/or antagonistic effects in combination with cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol in the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, relative to the normal MCF-12A non-malignant breast epithelial cell line.