Activation of NK cells in male cancer survivors by fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon okamuranus

  • Authors:
    • Takeaki Nagamine
    • Kizuku Kadena
    • Makoto Tomori
    • Katsuyuki Nakajima
    • Masahiko Iha
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  • Published online on: October 31, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2019.1943
  • Pages: 81-88
  • Copyright: © Nagamine et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Cancer survivors are highly motivated to seek information about the use of dietary supplements and complementary nutritional therapies to improve their quality of life. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown marine alga, exhibits a wide range of bioactivities, including anticancer activity. As natural killer (NK) cells serve an important role in defenses against tumor cells, the present study examined the effects of fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon Okamuranus on NK cell activity in cancer survivors. A prospective, open‑label clinical study was conducted on cancer survivors treated with fucoidan via oral administration; 11 cancer survivors with a performance status of 0 or 1 participated and consumed 3 g of fucoidan for 6 months. No significant changes were observed in the mean activities of NK cells in total subjects following the ingestion of fucoidan. An analysis of each sex revealed that NK cell activity was significantly increased by the ingestion of fucoidan in male, yet not female subjects. Serum fucoidan levels were markedly increased following the ingestion of fucoidan and the peak levels ranged between 30 and 198 ng/ml. Tumor markers remained within the reference range during the trial period in subjects, in whom primary tumors were eradicated by treatment. The basal values of tumor markers were elevated in three cases; tumor markers were increased in two cases and decreased in one by the ingestion of fucoidan. These findings suggest that fucoidan enhances the activation of NK cells in male cancer survivors.
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Spandidos Publications style
Nagamine T, Kadena K, Tomori M, Nakajima K and Iha M: Activation of NK cells in male cancer survivors by fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon okamuranus. Mol Clin Oncol 12: 81-88, 2020
APA
Nagamine, T., Kadena, K., Tomori, M., Nakajima, K., & Iha, M. (2020). Activation of NK cells in male cancer survivors by fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon okamuranus. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 12, 81-88. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2019.1943
MLA
Nagamine, T., Kadena, K., Tomori, M., Nakajima, K., Iha, M."Activation of NK cells in male cancer survivors by fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon okamuranus". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 12.1 (2020): 81-88.
Chicago
Nagamine, T., Kadena, K., Tomori, M., Nakajima, K., Iha, M."Activation of NK cells in male cancer survivors by fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon okamuranus". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 12, no. 1 (2020): 81-88. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2019.1943