Oncoprotective effects of chondroprotectors: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and undenatured type II collagen

Abstract

Objective: to systematize fundamental, clinical, and epidemiological data on the oncoprotective effects of chondroprotectors: chondroitin sulfate (CS), glucosamine (including glucosamine sulfate, GS), and undenatured type II collagen (UC-II).Material and methods. A systematic computer analysis of 6176 publications on the relationship between CS/GS/UC-II and tumor diseases found by the query “(glucosamine OR chondroitin OR ((“Collagen Type II” OR “type II collagen”) AND pharmacology)) AND (Cancer OR cancers OR tumor OR tumors OR tumors OR tumour*) NOT tumor necrosis)” in PubMed and Embase databases was performed. All articles of any format from 1900 to the present day with full available abstracts were taken. A topological approach to data analysis was used.Results. Large-scale clinical and epidemiological studies and meta-analyses showed that regular consumption of CS/GS reduced the risk of colorectal cancer and lung cancer, as well as mortality from tumor diseases. The mechanisms of oncoprotective action of CS/GS are through inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cascade of tumor necrosis factor alpha, CD44 receptor and nuclear factor kappa B, and initiation of tumor cell apoptosis. By modulating the CD44 receptor and specific O-glycosylation of intracellular proteins, GS inhibits the pro-inflammatory effects of arachidonic acid cascade, interleukins IL-6, IL-8, the PI3K/Akt proliferative pathway, and cyclin-dependent kinases. The first postgenomic studies of CS/GS oncoprotective effects, including microbiome studies, was performed. Additionally, CS contributes to the inhibition of the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinases involved in tumor metastasis and invasion. Potentially, CS/GS oncoprotective effects may be enhanced by the anti-inflammatory effect of UC-II: the addition of NC-II substance to CS/GS complex makes it possible to reduce the autoimmune branch of pathogenesis not only in primary, but also in secondary OA and rheumatoid arthritis.Conclusion. The CS and glucosamine (including GS) chondroprotectors exhibit oncoprotective effects. The use of CS and GS together with UС-II standardized pharmaceutical forms can enhance their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.