Phycocyanin and Histiocytic Sarcoma Cells: Study Summary

Research context: This article summarizes findings reported in the linked sources. Much of the research described here uses cell models, animals or isolated Spirulina compounds; it does not establish that eating Spirulina prevents or treats cancer in people. SPRU is a food, not a substitute for cancer screening, diagnosis or care.

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare and difficult to treat cancer that is extremely dangerous. 

Histiocytic sarcoma arises in the subcutis, with invasion to adjacent tissues and metastases to one or more distant sites (including the lungs, liver, bone marrow, uterus, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, soft tissues, and the spleen and other abdominal organs). 

Histiocytic sarcomas can involve any site within the central nervous system, including the brain parenchyma, spinal cord, and meninges.

TREATMENT

Untreated, the clinical course of disseminated histiocytic sarcoma is rapid and fatal. 

Localized histiocytic sarcoma is sometimes more slowly progressive, but can be extremely painful and cause a poor quality of life.

Overall, response rates to treatment are poor and survival times are short (3-4 months).

PHYCOCYANIN TREATMENT OF HISTIOCYTIC SARCOMA

Independent research into the effect of phycocyanin on a AK-5 histiocytic tumor line showed phycocyanin-induced apoptotic death in AK-5 cells starting just 12 hours after treatment.

Results from the study:
 

WHAT IT MEANS

The results of this independent research were fast and dramatic.

This is a laboratory cell-line result. It does not show that phycocyanin is a treatment for histiocytic sarcoma in people.

Further research has not been conducted as this is a rare cancer and spirulina phycocyanin is a natural and economic substance that would be difficult to patent as a high-profit drug. 

LEARN MORE

Phycocyanin-mediated apoptosis in AK-5 tumor cells involves down-regulation of Bcl-2 and generation of ROS

Study by Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, submitted to the American Association for Cancer Research

MOLECULAR CANCER THERAPEUTICS

 SLI-CA16