Abstract
Purpose: To review the effects of polysaccharides and their proposed mechanisms of action in breast cancer experimental models. Data sources, selection, and extraction: Articles were selected by using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Medline, assessed from 1 May 2019 to 1 July 2020. The systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Prospero) under the number CRD42020169103. Results: Most of the studies explore algae polysaccharides (43.2%), followed by mushrooms (13.5%), plants (13.5%), fruits (10.8%), fungus (2.7%), bacteria, (2.7%), and sea animals (2.7%). A total of 8.1% investigated only in vitro models, 62.1% evaluated only in vivo models, and 29.7% evaluated in vitro and in vivo models. The mechanism of action involves apoptosis, inhibition of cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and antimetastatic effects through multiple pathways. Conclusions: Findings included here support further investigations on the anti-tumor effect of polysaccharides. Some polysaccharides, such as fucoidan and β-glucans, deserve detailed and structured studies aiming at translational research on breast tumors, since they are already used in the clinical practice of other proposals of human health.
Highlights
The recent advances in research and especially the better access to high-quality care associated with early diagnosis and medical treatment by specialized multidisciplinary teams has improved the survival and quality of life for breast cancer patients [1]
The dose used by Hsu et al [31], was higher compared to the study conducted by Chen et al [27]. This particularity reflects in the results found by Zhang et al [32] that studied a low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) from the algae Laminaria japonica [32]
We performed a systematic review of non-clinical studies reporting on the antitumor effect of naturally occurring polysaccharides and their mechanism of action
Summary
The recent advances in research and especially the better access to high-quality care associated with early diagnosis and medical treatment by specialized multidisciplinary teams has improved the survival and quality of life for breast cancer patients [1]. Breast cancer incidence differs worldwide and takes into consideration risk factors, availability, and access to mammography for early disease diagnosis. Its incidence is higher in regions with high income Northern and Western Europe), whereas the lowest incidence is found in low-income regions (i.e., Eastern Asia and middle Africa) [4,5]. In high-income countries, breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, often leading to a good prognosis and effective treatment, while in low-income countries, breast cancer is diagnosed later and is associated with higher mortality rates [6]. The disease is classified in hormonal breast cancer (the estrogenic receptor (ER)
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