Therapeutic Potential of Marine Peptides in Prostate Cancer: Mechanistic Insights

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading cause of cancer death in men, and its treatment is commonly associated with severe adverse effects. Thus, new treatment modalities are required. In this context, natural compounds have been widely explored for their anti-PCa properties. Aquatic organisms contain numerous potential medications. Anticancer peptides are less toxic to normal cells and provide an efficacious treatment approach via multiple mechanisms, including altered cell viability, apoptosis, cell migration/invasion, suppression of angiogenesis and microtubule balance disturbances. This review sheds light on marine peptides as efficacious and safe therapeutic agents for PCa.

Keywords: antiangiogenic; antimetastatic; antimitotic; apoptosis; cell cycle arrest; marine peptides.

Figure 1

Pathophysiology of prostate cancer via NF-κB canonical and non-canonical pathways. The leading dimers of NF-κB are P50-P65, which activate the transcription process in canonical pathways. Different subunits like Toll-like receptor (TLR); tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R); Inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB); IκB kinase; NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK); mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP); androgen receptor (AR); bone marrow-derived cell (BMDC) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are also involved in the pathology of prostate cancer.

Figure 2

Summary of anticancer marine peptides isolated from different marine sources.

Figure 3

Schematic representation of intracellular apoptosis pathway.

Figure 4

Summary of the schematic representation of the anticancer mechanisms of marine peptides at different cellular pathways. Marine peptides inhibit different pathways such as inhibition of cell cycle, Amps, caspase, Ca⁺² influx, DNA replication, protein synthesis and lysosomal pathways.