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Photosynthetic marine organisms as a source of anticancer compounds

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Abstract

Since early human history, plants have served as the most important source of medicinal natural products, and even in the “synthetic age” the majority of lead compounds for pharmaceutical development remain of plant origin. In the marine realm, algae and seagrasses were amongst the first organisms investigated by marine natural products scientists on their quest for novel pharmaceutical compounds. Forty years after the pioneering work in the field of marine drug discovery began, the biodiversity of marine organisms investigated as potential sources of anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic compounds has increased tremendously. Nonetheless, marine plants are still an important source of novel secondary metabolites with interesting biomedical properties. The present review focuses on the antitumour properties of compounds isolated from marine algae, phytoplankton, mangroves, seagrasses, or cordgrasses. Compounds produced by marine epi- or endophytic fungi are also discussed.

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Abbreviations

APC:

Adenomatosis polyposis coli

Bax:

Bcl2-associated protein X

Bcl-2:

B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2

BTK:

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase

CDK:

Cyclin-dependent kinase

Chk:

Checkpoint kinase

EGFR:

Epidermal growth factor receptor

ERK:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase

GSK:

Glycogen synthase kinase

HAT:

Histone acetyl transferase

HDAC:

Histone deacetylase

IGF-I:

Insulin-like growth factor-I

IGF-IR:

IGF-I receptor

IMPDH:

Inosine 5′-phosphate dehydrogenase

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

MAPKK:

MAPK kinase

MDR:

Multidrug resistance

MMP:

Matrix metalloproteinase

MoA:

Mechanism of action

NA:

Not available

NSCLC:

Non-small cell lung carcinoma

PARP:

Poly ADP ribose polymerase

P-gp:

P-glycoprotein

PI3K:

Phosphoinositide-3-kinase

PKC:

Protein kinase C

PMA:

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

PTEN:

Phosphatase and tensin homologue

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

VEGFR:

VEGF receptor

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Acknowledgments

MJ is the recipient of a BBSRC Research Development Fellowship. M. Diederich’s research at the Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer (LBMCC) is financially supported by “Recherche Cancer et Sang” foundation, by «Recherches Scientifiques Luxembourg» asbl, by «Een Häerz fir Kriibskrank Kanner» association, the Action Lions “Vaincre le Cancer” Luxembourg, The Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg, Televie Luxembourg and the Foundation for Scientific Cooperation between Germany and Luxemburg for additional support. Further support was received from the European Union (ITN “RedCat” 215009 and Interreg IVa project “Corena”). Print costs were covered by the Fonds National de la Recherche – Luxembourg.

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  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire de Cancer, Hôpital Kirchberg, 9, rue Edward Steichen, 2540, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    F. Folmer, M. Dicato & M. Diederich

  2. Marine Biodiscovery Centre, University of Aberdeen, Meston Walk, Old Aberdeen, AB23 4UE, UK

    M. Jaspars

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  1. F. Folmer
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Folmer, F., Jaspars, M., Dicato, M. et al. Photosynthetic marine organisms as a source of anticancer compounds. Phytochem Rev 9, 557–579 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-010-9200-2

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