Pharmacotherapeutic Efficacy of Astaxanthin Toward Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Authors

Harnd Abdullah Ali, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq AND Asia International Hospital, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Bushra Hassan Marouf, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Lanja Ibraheim Saeed, Hiwa Hospital for Cancer, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Rafl M. Kamil, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaFollow
Savan Mohammed Dilshad, Department of Pharmacy, Shar Hospital, Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Health, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq AND Department of Pharmacy, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies in women, characterized by the malignant proliferation of breast epithelial cells that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. Astaxanthin (ASN), a marine-derived xanthophyll carotenoid, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Emerging evidence suggests that ASN may exert anti-neoplastic effects by inhibiting tumorigenesis and suppressing the growth and progression of BC cells. This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the therapeutic potential of ASN as a pharmacological agent in the prevention and management of breast cancer.

Methodology: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keywords (e.g., “astaxanthin”, “carotenoid”, “breast cancer”). Studies were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria with a focus on recent mechanistic insights. Ten studies meeting these criteria were included for analysis.

Results: The included studies (nine in vitro and one in vivo) demonstrate that ASN exerts significant antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic effects on BC cells. Mechanistically, these effects involve downregulation of mutated p53 and upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers. ASN also suppressed metastasis and angiogenesis, associated with increased expression of metastasis-suppressor genes such as BRMS1, maspin, MKK-4, and CD-82.

Conclusion: ASN shows promising anti-cancer potential in BC by targeting key pathways in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. Additionally, it may enhance chemosensitivity and reduce chemotherapy-induced toxicity. These findings support the potential role of ASN as an adjuvant therapeutic candidate in BC treatment strategies.

First Page

40

Last Page

47

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Ali, Harnd Abdullah; Marouf, Bushra Hassan; Saeed, Lanja Ibraheim; Kamil, Rafl M.; and Dilshad, Savan Mohammed (2025) "Pharmacotherapeutic Efficacy of Astaxanthin Toward Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review," BioMed Visions Journal: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63100/3078-6738.1017