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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.11.18.689081

Fucoidan exerts anti-cancer activity in a 3D prostate spheroid cell culture model.

Vider, J.·Shelper, T. B.·Lee, K. T. W.·Fitton, J. H.·West, N.
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Abstract

To investigate the effect of fucoidan on the viability, migration and mRNA/microRNA profiles of two prostate cancer cell lines in 3D culture (spheroids). Hormone resistant, PC-3, and hormone sensitive, LNCaP, spheroids were incubated in the presence of a proprietary fucoidan blend extract from Undaria pinnatifida and Fucus vesiculosus. Magnetic bioprinting was used to assess cells migration/metastatic potential in response to fucoidan exposure. Cellular viability was assessed using a cytotoxicity lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. nCounter (Nanostring) assays were used for microRNA and mRNA profiling in control and treated cells. Fucoidan treated PC-3 spheroids clearly showed a dose dependent viability/migration response and changes in spheroid structural morphology. Fifty-seven genes were significantly differentially expressed between fucoidan treated and non-treated PC-3 spheroids. No miRNAs at an adjusted p-value were significantly differentially expressed in PC-3 spheroids with fucoidan co-culture. Thirty-two genes were significantly differentially expressed in the fucoidan treated to non-treated LNCaP spheroids and there was a significant 3.5-fold (pAdj=0.012) increase in hsa-miR-1246 in the fucoidan treated compared to non-treated LNCaP spheroids. Gene sets enriched in fucoidan treated PC-3 spheroids related to DNA repair processes, cellular development, cell cycle and inflammation. These findings provide further pre-clinical evidence for a role for fucoidan in targeting cancer related pathways in both hormone sensitive and hormone resistant prostate cancer.

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Vider, J., Shelper, T. B., Lee, K. T. W., Fitton, J. H., West, N.. 2025-11-18. Fucoidan exerts anti-cancer activity in a 3D prostate spheroid cell culture model.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.18.689081

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