title: Antitumor Effects of Fucoidan on Human Colon Cancer Cells via Activation of Akt Signaling.
abstract: We identified a novel Akt signaling mechanism that mediates fucoidan-induced suppression of human colon cancer cell (HT29) proliferation and anticancer effects. Fucoidan treatment significantly inhibited growth, induced G1-phase-associated upregulation of p21WAF1 expression, and suppressed cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase expression in HT29 colon cancer cells. Additionally, fucoidan treatment activated the Akt signaling pathway, which was inhibited by treatment with an Akt inhibitor. The inhibition of Akt activation reversed the fucoidan-induced decrease in cell proliferation, the induction of G1-phase-associated p21WAF1 expression, and the reduction in cell cycle regulatory protein expression. Intraperitoneal injection of fucoidan reduced tumor volume; this enhanced antitumor efficacy was associated with induction of apoptosis and decreased angiogenesis. These data suggest that the activation of Akt signaling is involved in the growth inhibition of colon cancer cells treated with fucoidan. Thus, fucoidan may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Soonchunhyang Medical Science Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, 336-754.
authors.forename: Yong-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Vascular Medicine & Stem Cell Biology, Medical Research institute, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Soonchunhyang Medical Science Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, 336-754.
authors.forename: Sang Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Anticancer effect; Cell cycle arrest; Fucoidan; Human colorectal cancer cells