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Marine Drugs
Special Issues
Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents
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Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 14357

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Masaaki Tamura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anatomy & Physiology, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Interests: anticancer agents in green algae; Immune checkpoin inhibitor-based cancer therapy; nanoparticle-based cancer gene therapy; mesanchymal stem cell-based gene therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,                

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. Despite the therapeutic strategies achieved in recent decades, cancer remains a huge threat to human health and therefore it is important to develop innovative therapeutic strategies, including new drugs.

In recent years, many studies have indicated that marine-derived compounds exhibit anticancer properties, such as inhibiting cell growth and migration in vitro and in vivo. As many of these compounds are involved in several biological processes and interactions, they may have a more effective role in interacting with biological target sites and mediating distinct intracellular signaling pathways.

Our objective is to present these new marine sources as active molecules for cancer prevention and therapy and demonstrate their efficiency. As the Guest Editor of this Special Issue, I invite scientists from all over the world to submit reviews and original and conceptual research articles highlighting the use of marine resources as drugs for the treatment of cancer and their mechanisms of action.

Dr. Masaaki Tamura
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anticancer
  • anti-tumor
  • anti-proliferation
  • molecular targets
  • marine biotechnology
  • marine natural products
  • isolation and structure elucidation
  • drug discovery

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

35 pages, 11739 KiB  
Article
Combining In Vitro, In Vivo, and Network Pharmacology Assays to Identify Targets and Molecular Mechanisms of Spirulina-Derived Biomolecules against Breast Cancer
by Soha Osama Hassanin, Amany Mohammed Mohmmed Hegab, Reham Hassan Mekky, Mohamed Adel Said, Mona G. Khalil, Alaaeldin Ahmed Hamza and Amr Amin
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(7), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22070328 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 361
Abstract
The current research employed an animal model of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary gland carcinogenesis. The estrogen receptor-positive human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) was used for in vitro analysis. This was combined with a network pharmacology-based approach to assess the anticancer properties of Spirulina [...] Read more.
The current research employed an animal model of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary gland carcinogenesis. The estrogen receptor-positive human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) was used for in vitro analysis. This was combined with a network pharmacology-based approach to assess the anticancer properties of Spirulina (SP) extract and understand its molecular mechanisms. The results showed that the administration of 1 g/kg of SP increased the antioxidant activity by raising levels of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while decreasing the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl. A histological examination revealed reduced tumor occurrence, decreased estrogen receptor expression, suppressed cell proliferation, and promoted apoptosis in SP protected animals. In addition, SP disrupted the G2/M phase of the MCF-7 cell cycle, inducing apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. It also enhanced intrinsic apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by upregulating cytochrome c, Bax, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-7 proteins, while downregulating Bcl-2 production. The main compounds identified in the LC-MS/MS study of SP were 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives of cinnamic acid, hinokinin, valeric acid, and α-linolenic acid. These substances specifically targeted three important proteins: ERK1/2 MAPK, PI3K-protein kinase B (AKT), and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Network analysis and molecular docking indicated a significant binding affinity between SP and these proteins. This was verified by Western blot analysis that revealed decreased protein levels of p-EGFR, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT following SP administration. SP was finally reported to suppress MCF-7 cell growth and induce apoptosis by modulating the PI3K/AKT/EGFR and MAPK signaling pathways suggesting EGFR as a potential target of SP in breast cancer (BC) treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents)
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13 pages, 2142 KiB  
Article
Rare Ophiuroid-Type Steroid 3β,21-, 3β,22-, and 3α,22-Disulfates from the Slime Sea Star Pteraster marsippus and Their Colony-Inhibiting Effects against Human Breast Cancer Cells
by Alla A. Kicha, Timofey V. Malyarenko, Alexandra S. Kuzmich, Olesya S. Malyarenko, Anatoly I. Kalinovsky, Roman S. Popov, Dmitriy K. Tolkanov and Natalia V. Ivanchina
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22010043 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1572
Abstract
Two new steroid 3β,21-disulfates (1, 2) and two new steroid 3β,22- and 3α,22-disulfates (3, 4), along with the previously known monoamine alkaloid tryptamine (5) were found in the ethanolic extract of the Far Eastern slime [...] Read more.
Two new steroid 3β,21-disulfates (1, 2) and two new steroid 3β,22- and 3α,22-disulfates (3, 4), along with the previously known monoamine alkaloid tryptamine (5) were found in the ethanolic extract of the Far Eastern slime sea star Pteraster marsippus. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed analysis of one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR, HRESIMS, and HRESIMS/MS data. Compounds 1 and 2 have a Δ22-21-sulfoxy-24-norcholestane side chain. Compounds 3 and 4 contain a Δ24(28)-22-sulfoxy-24-methylcholestane side chain, which was first discovered in the polar steroids of starfish and brittle stars. The influence of substances 1–4 on cell viability, colony formation, and growth of human breast cancer T-47D, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells was investigated. It was shown that compounds 1 and 2 possess significant colony-inhibiting activity against T-47D cells, while compounds 3 and 4 were more effective against MDA-MB-231 cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents)
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12 pages, 2059 KiB  
Article
In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Red Algae Laurencia obtusa Anticancer Activity
by Jéssica Raquel Borges Monteiro, Ricardo Pereira Rodrigues, Ana Carolina Mazzuco, Rita de Cassia Ribeiro Gonçalves, Angelo Fraga Bernardino, Ricardo Machado Kuster and Rodrigo Rezende Kitagawa
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(6), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21060318 - 24 May 2023
Viewed by 1690
Abstract
Studies estimate that nearly 2 million new cases of gastric cancer will occur worldwide during the next two decades, which will increase mortality associated with cancer and the demand for new treatments. Marine algae of the Laurencia genus have secondary metabolites known for [...] Read more.
Studies estimate that nearly 2 million new cases of gastric cancer will occur worldwide during the next two decades, which will increase mortality associated with cancer and the demand for new treatments. Marine algae of the Laurencia genus have secondary metabolites known for their cytotoxic action, such as terpenes and acetogenins. The species Laurencia obtusa has demonstrated cytotoxicity against many types of tumors in previous analyses. In this study, we determined the structure of terpenes, acetogenins, and one fatty acid of Laurencia using mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR/MS). In vitro cytotoxicity assays were performed with adenocarcinoma gastric cells (AGS) to select the most cytotoxic fraction of the crude extract of L. obtusa. The Hex:AcOEt fraction was the most cytotoxic, with IC50 9.23 µg/mL. The selectivity index of 15.56 shows that the Hex:AcOEt fraction is selective to cancer cells. Compounds obtained from L. obtusa were tested by the analysis of crystallographic complexes. Molecular docking calculations on the active site of the HIF-2α protein showed the highest affinity for sesquiterpene chermesiterpenoid B, identified from HEX:AcOEt fraction, reaching a score of 65.9. The results indicate that L. obtusa presents potential compounds to be used in the treatment of neoplasms, such as gastric adenocarcinoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents)
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Review

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17 pages, 1403 KiB  
Review
Modulation of Apoptotic, Cell Cycle, DNA Repair, and Senescence Pathways by Marine Algae Peptides in Cancer Therapy
by Visuddho Visuddho, Princella Halim, Helen Helen, Adi Muradi Muhar, Muhammad Iqhrammullah, Nelly Mayulu, Reggie Surya, Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata, Rosy Iara Maciel Azambuja Ribeiro, Trina Ekawati Tallei, Nurpudji Astuti Taslim, Bonglee Kim, Rony Abdi Syahputra and Fahrul Nurkolis
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(8), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22080338 - 25 Jul 2024
Viewed by 251
Abstract
Marine algae, encompassing both macroalgae and microalgae, have emerged as a promising and prolific source of bioactive compounds with potent anticancer properties. Despite their significant therapeutic potential, the clinical application of these peptides is hindered by challenges such as poor bioavailability and susceptibility [...] Read more.
Marine algae, encompassing both macroalgae and microalgae, have emerged as a promising and prolific source of bioactive compounds with potent anticancer properties. Despite their significant therapeutic potential, the clinical application of these peptides is hindered by challenges such as poor bioavailability and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. To overcome these limitations, innovative delivery systems, particularly nanocarriers, have been explored. Nanocarriers, including liposomes, nanoparticles, and micelles, have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing the stability, solubility, and bioavailability of marine algal peptides, ensuring controlled release and prolonged therapeutic effects. Marine algal peptides encapsulated in nanocarriers significantly enhance bioavailability, ensuring more efficient absorption and utilization in the body. Preclinical studies have shown promising results, indicating that nanocarrier-based delivery systems can significantly improve the pharmacokinetic profiles and therapeutic outcomes of marine algal peptides. This review delves into the diverse anticancer mechanisms of marine algal peptides, which include inducing apoptosis, disrupting cell cycle progression, and inhibiting angiogenesis. Further research focused on optimizing nanocarrier formulations, conducting comprehensive clinical trials, and continued exploration of marine algal peptides holds great promise for developing innovative, effective, and sustainable cancer therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents)
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46 pages, 5370 KiB  
Review
Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents Targeting Apoptotic Pathways: Exploring the Depths for Novel Cancer Therapies
by Doralyn S. Dalisay, Chuckcris P. Tenebro, Edna M. Sabido, Angelica Faith L. Suarez, Melissa June V. Paderog, Rikka Reyes-Salarda and Jonel P. Saludes
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(3), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22030114 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4558
Abstract
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents)
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23 pages, 840 KiB  
Review
Ten Years of Research on Fucoidan and Cancer: Focus on Its Antiangiogenic and Antimetastatic Effects
by Eleonora Turrini, Francesca Maffei and Carmela Fimognari
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(5), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21050307 - 18 May 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5259
Abstract
Angiogenesis and metastasis represent two challenging targets to combat cancer development in the later stages of its progression. Numerous studies have indicated the important role of natural products in blocking tumor angiogenesis signaling pathways in several advanced tumors. In recent years, the marine [...] Read more.
Angiogenesis and metastasis represent two challenging targets to combat cancer development in the later stages of its progression. Numerous studies have indicated the important role of natural products in blocking tumor angiogenesis signaling pathways in several advanced tumors. In recent years, the marine polysaccharides fucoidans emerged as promising anticancer compounds showing potent antitumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of different types of cancers. The objective of this review is to focus on the antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activities of fucoidans with special emphasis on preclinical studies. Independently from their source, fucoidans inhibit several angiogenic regulators, primarily vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). A glance towards fucoidans’ ongoing clinical trials and pharmacokinetic profile is provided to present the main challenges that still need to be addressed for their bench-to-bedside translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Discovery of Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents)
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