Title:Marine Natural Products as a Promising Source of Therapeutic Compounds to Target Cancer Stem Cells
Volume: 28
Issue: 22
Author(s): Catarina Vizetto-Duarte, Pedro Castelo-Branco and Luísa Custódio*
Affiliation:
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro,Portugal
Keywords:
Algae, metastasis, quiescence, resistance, sponges, stemness, tumor microenvironment.
Abstract: Cancer is the world’s leading cause of death after heart diseases and involves abnormal
cell growth at a primary site and the potential to spread to other parts of the body. Tumors
are highly heterogeneous and consist of subgroups of cells with distinct characteristics.
Of these, the cancer stem cells (CSC) niche plays a crucial role in driving the spread of the
tumor and are thought to provide treatment resistance. CSC is a rare special population of cancer
cells exhibiting high tumorigenic properties together with self-renewal and differentiation
capability. CSC is not only linked with high tumor-initiating activity, but is also implicated in
chemotherapeutic resistance, metastasis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and recurrence.
Thereafter, novel therapeutic strategies targeting CSC are in need to improve long-term clinical
outcomes. The literature supports the evidence that marine natural compounds can exhibit
antioxidant, antimitotic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic as well as anticancer activity. In this
review, we will provide an insight into the relevance of selected marine natural products as a
source of bioactive compounds with anti-cancer properties to target CSC, which may benefit
the development of novel anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.
