Research Progress of Polysaccharides and Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Over the past decade, scientists have already discovered several methods for cancer treatment, however, most of the treatments have various kinds of negative side effects. Researchers have focused on creating medications with few adverse effects for cancer because it is one of the most fatal diseases. Due to their anti-tumor properties and non-toxic attributes, bioactive macromolecules like polysaccharides are seen as viable options against cancer. Nowadays, there have been many studies on the mechanisms and possibilities of polysaccharides against tumors, and this paper attempts to summarize the progress and main problems achieved so far in polysaccharides against cancer. This article will start from these aspects, the idea of cancer treatment, how cancer affects the immune system, how polysaccharides are absorbed and processed, how they are used in anti-tumor therapy, and how they work are all covered in the current review. Future therapeutic research will place a high priority on polysaccharides since they have the potential to be significant therapeutic targets.