Yutao Chen: What happens when we team up a cancer pill and seaweed?

<p dir="ltr">Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand, with Māori women disproportionately affected. Lapatinib, a targeted therapy for ERBB2‑positive disease, often fails when tumours activate an ERBB3 (HER3) bypass. We test whether fucoidan—a purified, medium‑molecular‑weight polysaccharide from invasive wakame (Undaria pinnatifida)—can strengthen lapatinib by suppressing ERBB3 while easing side effects.</p><p dir="ltr">Across breast‑cancer subtypes and normal breast cells, we measured growth, apoptosis, and ERBB3 activity to see where and why the pairing works. Early results are encouraging: in high‑ERBB3 lines, fucoidan + lapatinib reduced viability by up to 67.4%, reversed acquired resistance, lowered total and phosphorylated ERBB3, and reduced cytotoxicity in normal cells by up to 7.1%. If confirmed, this locally sourced add‑on could make treatment both stronger and gentler—and turn a nuisance seaweed into value.</p>