Recent Updates on Marine Cancer-Preventive Compounds

The natural compounds derived from marine organisms often exhibit unique chemical structures and potent biological activities. Cancer-preventive activity is one of the rather new activities that has emerged and been extensively studied over the last decades. This review summarizes the recent updates on the marine chemopreventive compounds covering the relevant literature published in 2013-2021 and following the previous comprehensive review by Stonik and Fedorov (Marine Drugs 2014, 12, 636-671). In the current article, only the molecules having an effect on malignant transformation (or related pathway and molecules), cancer stem cells, or carcinogen-induced in vivo tumor development were considered to be true cancer-preventive compounds and were, therefore, reviewed. Additionally, particular attention has been given to the molecular mechanisms of chemoprevention, executed by the reported marine compounds.

Automated summary

Natural compounds derived from marine organisms often have unique chemical structures and potent biological activities, including cancer-preventive effects. Recent updates on marine chemopreventive compounds have been summarized, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms involved.