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ASTX Astaxanthin
Description: <b>Astaxanthin</b> is a xanthophyll carotenoid with exceptionally strong antioxidant capacity. In cancer biology, it shows context-dependent effects—largely chemopreventive and cytoprotective, with limited evidence as a direct antineoplastic agent.<br>
Anti-inflammatory signaling, Astaxanthin can inhibit: NF-κB, COX-2, iNOS<br>
Astaxanthin commonly Activates NRF2: Upregulates antioxidant enzymes (GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX)<br>
-Protective in normal tissues<br>
-Potentially tumor-protective in established cancers<br>
<br>
Often discouraged during active chemotherapy or radiation<br>
It may:<br>
-Protect tumor cells from ROS-mediated killing<br>
-Reduce lipid peroxidation-based therapies<br>
This concern is similar to:<br>
-Vitamin E<br>
-Trolox<br>
-High-dose carotenoids<br>
<br>
Astaxanthin is less likely to be pro-oxidant than lycopene or β-carotene.<br>
Some reports indicate a pro-oxidant effect, but at concentrations that are not achievable for in vito.<br>
<br>

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells

Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 3,   Catalase↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↑, 1,   GPx↑, 1,   GPx4↓, 1,   MDA↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS⇅, 1,   ROS↓, 3,   ROS∅, 1,   ROS↑, 1,   SOD↑, 2,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

CDC2↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

cMyc↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↑, 1,   Akt↓, 2,   Apoptosis↑, 11,   Apoptosis↓, 1,   BAX↑, 3,   BAX⇅, 1,   Bcl-2↓, 5,   Casp3↑, 3,   cl‑Casp3↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↑, 1,   MAPK↓, 1,   p27↑, 1,   TumCD↑, 3,  

Kinase & Signal Transduction ⓘ

HER2/EBBR2↓, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics ⓘ

tumCV↓, 3,  

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

DNAdam↑, 1,   P53↓, 1,   P53↑, 1,   PARP1↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

CDK1↑, 1,   CDK4↓, 1,   CycB/CCNB1↓, 1,   cycD1/CCND1↓, 2,   P21↑, 2,   TumCCA↑, 5,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

CSCs↓, 1,   EMT↓, 2,   ERK↓, 2,   p‑ERK↓, 1,   GSK‐3β↑, 1,   Nanog↓, 1,   OCT4↓, 1,   PI3K↑, 1,   PI3K↓, 2,   STAT3↓, 1,   TumCG↓, 3,  

Migration ⓘ

E-cadherin↑, 1,   miR-200b↑, 1,   miR-29b↑, 2,   MMP1↓, 1,   MMP2↓, 2,   MMP9↓, 1,   MMPs↓, 2,   N-cadherin↓, 1,   TumCI↓, 2,   TumCMig↓, 4,   TumCP↑, 1,   TumCP↓, 8,   TumCP⇅, 1,   TumMeta↓, 2,   Zeb1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

EGFR↓, 1,   VEGF↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

Inflam↓, 2,   NF-kB↓, 1,   PSA↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↑, 2,   ChemoSen⇅, 1,   ChemoSen↑, 3,   Dose↑, 1,   Dose⇅, 1,   Dose↓, 1,   Dose↝, 1,   eff↑, 2,   RadioS↑, 2,   selectivity↑, 3,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

EGFR↓, 1,   HER2/EBBR2↓, 1,   PSA↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

AntiCan↑, 3,   AntiTum↑, 2,   chemoP↑, 2,   radioP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 87

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells

Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 8,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS↓, 2,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

MMP↑, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Apoptosis↓, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

DNAdam↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

ERK↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

IFN-γ↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   Imm↑, 1,   Inflam↓, 2,   NF-kB↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

BDNF↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↓, 1,   BioAv↝, 2,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

IL6↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

AntiDiabetic↑, 1,   AntiTum↑, 2,   cardioP↑, 1,   chemoPv↑, 1,   hepatoP↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 4,   radioP↑, 2,  

Infection & Microbiome ⓘ

Bacteria↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 25

Research papers

Year Title Authors PMID Link Flag
2025Astaxanthin promotes apoptosis by suppressing growth signaling pathways in HT-29 colorectal cancer cellsŞeyma Taştemur40789788https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40789788/0
2025An overview of the anticancer activity of astaxanthin and the associated cellular and molecular mechanismsHoda Mojiri-Forushani—https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S29501997250025020
2025Astaxanthin in cancer therapy and prevention (Review)Chiara CopatPMC11865706https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11865706/0
2024Astaxanthin's Impact on Colorectal Cancer: Examining Apoptosis, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Gene ExpressionMaryam Hormozi—https://openbiochemistryjournal.com/VOLUME/18/ELOCATOR/e1874091X328849/FULLTEXT/0
2024Astaxanthin suppresses the malignant behaviors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by blocking PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways via miR-29a-3pYajia XuPMC11036637https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11036637/0
2024Astaxanthin Induces Apoptosis in MCF-7 Cells through a p53-Dependent PathwayKoanhoi Kim—https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/13/71110
2024Astaxanthin Prevents Oxidative Damage and Cell Apoptosis Under Oxidative Stress Involving the Restoration of Mitochondrial FunctionJia-Xin Yu—https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbf.700270
2023In vivo protective efficacy of astaxanthin against ionizing radiation-induced DNA damageDilek Aşcı Çelik37545012https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37545012/0
2023Astaxanthin protects the radiation-induced lung injury in C57BL/6 female miceJunshi Li—https://academic.oup.com/rpd/article-abstract/199/17/2096/7237358?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false0
2023Astaxanthin Synergizes with Ionizing Radiation (IR) in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)Yuheng Du—https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12033-023-01024-20
2023Potent carotenoid astaxanthin expands the anti-cancer activity of cisplatin in human prostate cancer cellsYalcin Erzurumlu—https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11418-023-01701-10
2022Effect of astaxanthin and melatonin on cell viability and DNA damage in human breast cancer cell linesAida Karimian—https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00651281210015490
2021Chemopreventive and therapeutic efficacy of astaxanthin against cancer: A comprehensive reviewKeshamma E—https://www.biosciencejournals.com/assets/archives/2021/vol9issue4/9-6-11-895.pdf0
2020The Promising Effects of Astaxanthin on Lung DiseasesJunrui ChengPMC8166543https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8166543/0
2020Low Dose Astaxanthin Treatments Trigger the Hormesis of Human Astroglioma Cells by Up-Regulating the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase and Down-Regulated the Tumor Suppressor Protein P53Juhyun ShinPMC7590133https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7590133/0
2020Astaxanthin Reduces Stemness Markers in BT20 and T47D Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Inhibiting Expression of Pontin and Mutant p53Yong Tae AhnPMC7699712https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7699712/0
2020Anti-Tumor Effects of Astaxanthin by Inhibition of the Expression of STAT3 in Prostate CancerShao-Qian SunPMC7459748https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7459748/0
2019Astaxanthin suppresses the metastasis of colon cancer by inhibiting the MYC-mediated downregulation of microRNA-29a-3p and microRNA-200aHye-Youn Kim—https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45924-30
2018Effects of Astaxanthin on the Proliferation and Migration of Breast Cancer Cells In VitroBuckley McCalPMC6210693https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6210693/0
2017Astaxanthin reduces MMP expressions, suppresses cancer cell migrations, and triggers apoptotic caspases of in vitro and in vivo models in melanomaYen-Ting Chen—https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S17564646173000510
2017Astaxanthin increases radiosensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through inducing apoptosis and G2/M arrestX Qian28475750https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28475750/0
2015Astaxanthin Inhibits Proliferation of Human Gastric Cancer Cell Lines by Interrupting Cell Cycle ProgressionJung Ha KimPMC4849689https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4849689/0