Abstract
Simple SummaryColorectal cancer (CRC) is suggested to be preventable by certain food intakes. Fucoxanthin (Fx) is an anticancer agent contained abundantly in edible brown algae. However, epidemiological studies, in vivo and in vitro experiments for CRC, using Fx and Fx-rich foods, have not been fully outlined. To date, it has been reported that Fx, its metabolite of fucoxanthinol (FxOH) and Fx-rich algal extracts exerted anticancer potentials in human CRC cell lines, their cancer stem-cells-like spheroids and CRC animal models through a number of molecular mechanisms. Moreover, many in vivo experiments and interventional human trials have demonstrated that Fx, Fx-rich algal extracts and brown alga itself may improve CRC and/or certain risks, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, oxidation, tumor microenvironment and/or gut microbiota. This review is the first report that summarizes the improving effects by Fx, FxOH and its rich brown algae for CRC and the risk factors.Colorectal cancer (CRC), which ranks among the top 10 most prevalent cancers, can obtain a good outcome with appropriate surgery and/or chemotherapy. However, the global numbers of both new cancer cases and death from CRC are expected to increase up to 2030. Diet-induced lifestyle modification is suggested to be effective in reducing the risk of human CRC; therefore, interventional studies using diets or diet-derived compounds have been conducted to explore the prevention of CRC. Fucoxanthin (Fx), a dietary carotenoid, is predominantly contained in edible brown algae, such as Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) and Himanthalia elongata (Sea spaghetti), which are consumed particularly frequently in Asian countries but also in some Western countries. Fx is responsible for a majority of the anticancer effects exerted by the lipophilic bioactive compounds in those algae. Interventional human trials have shown that Fx and brown algae mitigate certain risk factors for CRC; however, the direct mechanisms underlying the anti-CRC properties of Fx remain elusive. Fx and its deacetylated type “fucoxanthinol” (FxOH) have been reported to exert potential anticancer effects in preclinical cancer models through the suppression of many cancer-related signal pathways and the tumor microenvironment or alteration of the gut microbiota. We herein review the most recent studies on Fx as a potential candidate drug for CRC prevention.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global cancer, accounting for about 6% of total cases of new cancer (1.1 million per 18.1 million) and cancer death (0.6 million per 9.6 million), as estimated by the GLOBOCAN 2018 database [1]
We previously showed that Fx administration (30 mg/kg bw) for 8 and 14 weeks significantly prevented colorectal carcinogenesis and decreased the number of cancer stem cells (CCSCs)-like CD44high/EpCAMhigh cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-like αSMAhigh cells, TAMsand dendritic cells (DCs)-like CD206high cells and/or increased apoptotic cell-like cleaved caspase-3high cells in colorectal mucosal tissue in AOM/DSS mice
Edible brown algae are often high in Fx content, and their consumption has been expanding in Asia, North and South America and Europe
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global cancer, accounting for about 6% of total cases of new cancer (1.1 million per 18.1 million) and cancer death (0.6 million per 9.6 million), as estimated by the GLOBOCAN 2018 database [1]. The incidence and mortality of CRC have been declining in highly developed countries, such as the USA, Australia, Russia and Japan, where an early diagnosis, surgical resection and drug treatments are easy to receive. Many interventional human trials and in vivo studies have suggested that Fx and its rich brown algae may improve CRC and/or certain risks for CRC such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, oxidation, TME, and gut microbiota (summarized in Sections 4 and 5) Report integrated the improving effects by Fx and its rich brown algae for CRC and the risk factors
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