Antitumor and anticoagulant activities of collagen protein from the holothurian Apostichopus japonicas modified by proteolytic enzymes

A collagen preparation with antitumor and anticoagulant activity was obtained from the body of the holothurian (sea cucumber) Apostichopus japonicus treated with a complex of proteolytic enzymes. Administration of the collagen preparation inhibited in vivo growth of Ehrlich solid adenocarcinoma 2-fold ( P < 0.05) and contributed to the survival of ascitic tumor-bearing mice, increasing their life span by 29.4 ± 3.2% ( P < 0.05). With its moderate anticoagulant activity, this preparation is a preferential inhibitor of the initial link of the blood coagulation system. The biomedical properties and the character of the chemical structure of the collagen protein obtained from A. japonicus suggest that the mechanism of its action is similar to that of the collagen-like protein endostatin and sulfated polysaccharides. The obtained protein may be applied as a nontoxic agent of supplementary therapy for oncological and cardiovascular diseases.