Metagenomic sequencing of C57BL/6 mice treated with mannose

Mannose is a natural six-carbon monosaccharide found in various fruits, plants, and fungi, and is widely present in various tissues and fluids of the human body. The primary physiological function of mannose is to regulate protein glycosylation rather than to serve as an energy source. Mannose also possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties, and several clinical trials have demonstrated its application as an adjuvant treatment for urinary tract infections, with a favorable safety profile. Gonzalez et al. were the first to report that mannose has potent antitumor effects and enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma and pancreatic cancer. A subsequent study demonstrated that mannose also enhances the efficacy of immunotherapy and radiotherapy via degradation of PD-L1 in triple-negative breast cancer. Notably, these antitumor effects of mannose are achieved by simple oral administration of mannose via drinking water, without significantly affecting the health or weight of tumor bearing mice. Taken together, these findings indicate that mannose has promising potential to serve as a novel adjuvant antitumor therapy for cancer patients. However, the antitumor effects of mannose in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been fully elucidated.