Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents Targeting Apoptotic Pathways: Exploring the Depths for Novel Cancer Therapies

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 114
• Main Authors: Dalisay, Doralyn S, Tenebro, Chuckcris P, Sabido, Edna M, Suarez, Angelica Faith L, Paderog, Melissa June V, Reyes-Salarda, Rikka, Saludes, Jonel P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 28.02.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Actinobacteria; Algae; Animals; Anthozoa; anticancer; Anticancer properties; Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic drugs; Apoptosis; apoptotic agents; Bioactive compounds; Biological products; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cell cycle; Cell death; Cells; Chemical properties; Chromatin; Clinical trials; combination therapy; Competition; Condensates; Corals; Cyanobacteria; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Defense mechanisms; DNA repair; Drug resistance; FDA approval; Fungi; Health aspects; Innovations; Kinases; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Macrophages; marine actinobacteria; Marine algae; Marine fauna; Marine invertebrates; marine natural products; Marine organisms; marine sponges; Materials; Mode of action; Molecular modelling; Mollusks; Natural products; Neoplasms; Organisms; Phagocytosis; Physiological aspects; Prospective Studies; Proteins; R&D; Research & development; Review; Shellfish; Philippines; apoptotic agents; marine actinobacteria; marine sponges; mechanism of action; combination therapy; clinical trials; marine natural products; anticancer
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md22030114

Extensive research has been conducted on the isolation and study of bioactive compounds derived from marine sources. Several natural products have demonstrated potential as inducers of apoptosis and are currently under investigation in clinical trials. These marine-derived compounds selectively interact with extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways using a variety of molecular mechanisms, resulting in cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic blebs, apoptotic bodies, and phagocytosis by adjacent parenchymal cells, neoplastic cells, or macrophages. Numerous marine-derived compounds are currently undergoing rigorous examination for their potential application in cancer therapy. This review examines a total of 21 marine-derived compounds, along with their synthetic derivatives, sourced from marine organisms such as sponges, corals, tunicates, mollusks, ascidians, algae, cyanobacteria, fungi, and actinobacteria. These compounds are currently undergoing preclinical and clinical trials to evaluate their potential as apoptosis inducers for the treatment of different types of cancer. This review further examined the compound's properties and mode of action, preclinical investigations, clinical trial studies on single or combination therapy, and the prospective development of marine-derived anticancer therapies.