Fucoidan induces cancer cell apoptosis by modulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress cascades.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer metastasis is the main cause leading to disease recurrence and high mortality in cancer patients. Therefore, inhibiting metastasis process or killing metastatic cancer cells by inducing apoptosis is of clinical importance in improving cancer patient survival. Previous studies revealed that fucoidan, a fucose-rich polysaccharide isolated from marine brown alga, is a promising natural product with significant anti-cancer activity. However, little is known about the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in fucoidan-induced cell apoptosis.

Principal findings

We reported that fucoidan treatment inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. Fucoidan treatments resulted in down-regulation of the glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in the metasta

SUBMITTER: Chen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4169461 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature