Recent research reveals mannose's anti-cancer effects, as it inhibits cancer cell growth in various physiological processes in the human body.

"This sugar could give cancer an extra punch alongside other treatments," says study co-author Hudson Freeze, Ph.D., director of the Human Genetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. "And because mannose is found throughout the body naturally, it could improve cancer treatment without any undesirable side effects."

Mannose: Unveiling the Sugar's Role in Glycosylation

Mannose, a sugar, is incorporated into proteins for structural stability and interactions, a vital process essential for life. However, irregularities in glycosylation can lead to life-threatening diseases.

"Until now, the most promising therapeutic use for mannose was to treat congenital disorders of glycosylation, diseases that can cause a wide range of severe symptoms throughout the body," says Freeze. "But we believe that there may be ways to leverage mannose against cancer and other diseases as well."

In the laboratory, mannose has demonstrated its ability to hinder the growth of various cancer types. However, the precise mechanisms behind this effect remain poorly understood. To gain deeper insights, the research team shifted their focus to an unexpected characteristic of mannose observed in honey bees, an unlikely subject.

"It's been known for more than a century that mannose is lethal to honeybees because they can't process it like humans do—it's known as 'honeybee syndrome,'" says Freeze. "We wanted to see if there is any relationship between honeybee syndrome and the anti-cancer properties of mannose, which could lead to an entirely new approach to combating cancer."