TITLE:
Effect of Fucoidan Dietary Supplement on the Chemotherapy Treatment of Patients with Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer
AUTHORS:
Masahide Ikeguchi, Hiroaki Saito, Yasunari Miki, Takayuki Kimura
KEYWORDS:
Chemotherapy, Fucoidan, Gastric Cancer, Toxicity, Prognosis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.6 No.11,
October
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: In Japan, S-1 plus cisplatin has become a standard regimen for the
treatment of unresectable advanced gastric cancer; however, many patients are
unable to continue effective chemotherapy because of the regimen’s severe side
effects. Thus, control of drug toxicity is key to prolonging patient survival.
Fucoidan is a major sulfated polysaccharide found in brown seaweeds and has a
wide range of biological activities. In the present study, we analyzed the
effect of fucoidan on suppressing the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs.
Twenty-four patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer underwent
treatment with S-1 plus cisplatin and were randomly allocated into a fucoidan
treatment group (n = 12) or a control group without fucoidan treatment (n =
12). The study results demonstrated that fucoidan controlled the occurrence of
fatigue during chemotherapy and patients could continue chemotherapy for longer
time periods by maintaining the patients’ favorable nourishment status. As a
result, the survival of patients with fucoidan treatment was longer than that
of patients without fucoidan. Thus, fucoidan should be included as a key food
supplement for patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas who are suffering from
the adverse side effects of chemotherapy.