From antimicrobial to anticancer peptides. A review

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of innate immunity.
• AMPs are being explored as anticancer peptides (ACPs) for cancer therapy.
• Existing cancer treatments necessitate the development of novel, selective drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on ACPs for cancer treatment.
• To summarize ACPs' structure, mechanisms of action, selectivity, and efficacy.
• To discuss strategies for ACP drug development and enhancing tumor cell selectivity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on antimicrobial and anticancer peptides.
• Analysis of peptide structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of action.
• Summary of ACPs developed for solid and hematologic malignancies.

Main Results:

• ACPs exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, sometimes co-existing within specific cancers.
• Predicting antitumor activity solely from ACP structure remains a challenge.
• Various ACPs have been studied for targeting different cancer types.

Conclusions:

• ACPs represent a unique therapeutic strategy distinct from current chemotherapeutics.
• Further research into ACP mechanisms is crucial for optimizing drug development.
• Developing selective ACPs with reduced toxicity is an ongoing challenge.