According to the National Cancer Institute, three principal mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain the antitumor potential of cartilage:
1) it kills cancer cells directly;
2) it stimulates the immune system; and
3) it blocks the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which tumors need for unrestricted growth. An angiogenesis inhibitor is a substance that may prevent the formation of blood vessels. In anticancer therapy, an angiogenesis inhibitor prevents the growth of blood vessels from surrounding tissue to a solid tumor. Angiogenesis inhibitors have been purified from shark cartilage.

the FDA has not approved Shark Cartilage as a cancer treatment.