Potential role of Marine Bioactive Compounds in cancer signaling pathways: A review

Cancer is characterized by alterations that cause the over-proliferation of cells and hyperactivation of signaling pathways. Alterations of signaling molecules dysregulate physiological functions like cell growth, proliferation, metastasis, and cell death. Hence, the potential anticancer compounds primarily target signaling networks for therapeutic interventions in cancer. In the past few years, cancer therapy directed its focus on bioactive com-pounds that originated from marine sources considering their diverse and untapped nature. These Marine Bioactive Compounds (MBCs) are broadly classified into distinct categories such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, peptides, phenols, quinones, terpenes, and saponins. Bioactive compounds from each class initiate cell death via different signaling pathways. The primary objective of this review is to provide comprehensive information about the pathways that are predominantly targeted by every class of MBCs and integrating data from several marine anticancer research. Here, we studied the role of MBCs in signaling networks that inhibit various cancer types. As a result, we concluded that PI3K/AKT, ROS, and p53 are the three prime signaling pathways targeted by the MBCs to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Carbohydrates, peptides, and terpenes are the major MBCs classes that regulate signaling pathways in cancer. Hence it is concluded that future anticancer research can be primarily focused on the MBCs derived from the scrutinized classes that adhere to pathways like PI3K/AKT, ROS, and p53 to achieve par excellence results.

Automated summary

Cancer is characterized by alterations that cause cell over-proliferation and hyperactivation of signaling pathways. Bioactive compounds derived from marine sources, known as Marine Bioactive Compounds (MBCs), have been a focus in cancer therapy due to their diverse nature. This review summarizes the pathways predominantly targeted by different classes of MBCs and concludes that PI3K/AKT, ROS, and p53 are the key signaling pathways for induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Carbohydrates, peptides, and terpenes are the major classes of MBCs regulating cancer signaling pathways. Future anticancer research could focus on MBCs from these classes that adhere to the PI3K/AKT, ROS, and p53 pathways to achieve excellent results.