Harnessing marine polysaccharides for breast cancer therapy: ulvan synergizes with nano-selenium to induce programmed cell death through dual modulation of autophagy and apoptosis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Since breast cancer is one of the biggest worldwide health issues, new and effective treatment approaches are required. Because autophagy control has two context-dependent roles in the development of cancer, it is a prospective therapeutic target. With an emphasis on the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy, this work assessed the anticancer potential of ulvan, a sulfated polysaccharide produced from Ulva lactuca, and ulvan-loaded nano-selenium in an Ehrlich solid carcinoma model. Material: ESC-bearing mice were treated with ulvan extract, sodium selenite or ulvan-SeNPs for 14 days. The anticancer activity was assessed through histology, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, apoptotic proteins and genes expression for autophagy and molecular docking studies. Results: restored antioxidant defenses, reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and induced apoptosis via caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation. Ulvan induced controlled autophagy by decreasing mTOR and increasing autophagy related gene expression. Ulvan-SeNPs exhibited enhanced anticancer activity with increased activation of autophagic and apoptotic pathways, as evidenced by tumor shrinkage, reduced angiogenesis and histopathological analysis. Conclusion: Ulvan is a controlled anti-cancer agent, with a mechanism synergistically enhanced by nano-selenium. These results indicate that ulvan could be a potential natural therapeutic for breast cancer alone or in combination with nano-selenium.
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology
Language: English
Subfield: Aquatic Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Award: G5569291204
OpenAlex ID: W7221832270