Abstract
The malignant neoplastic cell is characterized by its diverse metabolic changes. It occurs in order to maintain the high rate of proliferation. The possibility of new pharmacological targets has inserted tumor metabolism as a target for recent research, emphasizing the enzymatic activity of thiamin. This review aims to elucidate the behavior of thiamin against tumor development. This is a systematic review in which studies indexed in Pubmed, Scopus, SciELO and BVS were searched using the descriptors (Thiamin OR Vitamin B1) AND (Cancer OR Malignant neoplasia) AND (Tumor metabolism). Title and abstract were read. Duplicates, literary reviews, books, conference abstracts, editorials, and papers published prior to 2010 were eliminated. 23 records were included in this review. Low doses of thiamin have been shown to be enough to stimulate tumor growth. Another population studies has shown evidence of tumor regression after correction of vitamin B1 deficiency. There is an open path for the development of new research to better assess the influence of thiamin on cancer cells. Once the connections between thiamin and the metabolism of cancer cells are fully established, new opportunities for therapeutic intervention and dietary modification will appear to reduce the progression of the disease in patients with cancer.
Funding Statement
No funding.
Statement of Authorship
J.R.A. Queiroz Júnior and J.P.C. Pereira equally contributed to the conception and design of the research; L.L. Pires contributed to the design of the research; J.R.A. Queiroz Júnior and J.P.C. Pereira contributed to the acquisition and analysis of the data and to the interpretation of the data; and L.L. Pires, J.R.A. Queiroz Júnior, J.P.C. Pereira and C.S. Maia drafted the manuscript. C.S. Maia critically revised the text. All authors critically revised the manuscript, agree to be fully accountable for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the work, and read and approved the final manuscript.