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Proteins and their functionalization for finding therapeutic avenues in cancer: Current status and future prospective
Sonali Mohanty1, Sikta Panda2, U Devadharshini1
1Department of Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
Abstract:
Despite the remarkable advancement in the health care sector, cancer remains the second most fatal disease globally. The existing conventional cancer treatments primarily include chemotherapy, which has been associated with little to severe side effects, and radiotherapy, which is usually expensive. To overcome these problems, target-specific nanocarriers have been explored for delivering chemo drugs. However, recent reports on using a few proteins having anticancer activity and further use of them as drug carriers have generated tremendous attention for furthering the research towards cancer therapy. Biomolecules, especially proteins, have emerged as suitable alternatives in cancer treatment due to multiple favourable properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural flexibility for easy surface functionalization. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that various proteins derived from animal, plant, and bacterial species, demonstrated strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties against malignant cells in native and their different structural conformations. Moreover, surface tunable properties of these proteins help to bind a range of anticancer drugs and target ligands, thus making them efficient delivery agents in cancer therapy. Here, we discuss various proteins obtained from common exogenous sources and how they transform into effective anticancer agents. We also comprehensively discuss the tumor-killing mechanisms of different dietary proteins such as bovine α-lactalbumin, hen egg-white lysozyme, and their conjugates. We also articulate how protein nanostructures can be used as carriers for delivering cancer drugs and theranostics, and strategies to be adopted for improving their in vivo delivery and targeting. We further discuss the FDA-approved protein-based anticancer formulations along with those in different phases of clinical trials.
Insights
Proteins from various sources show anticancer properties and can be engineered as drug carriers for targeted cancer therapy, offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading global cause of death, with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy having limitations.
- Target-specific nanocarriers are being explored for improved chemotherapy drug delivery.
- Proteins are emerging as promising alternatives due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of proteins as anticancer agents and drug delivery systems.
- To discuss the mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of various proteins in cancer treatment.
- To explore the use of protein nanostructures for drug delivery and theranostics.
Main Methods:
- Review of in vitro and in vivo studies on protein-based anticancer therapies.
- Analysis of protein properties, including cytotoxicity, antiproliferative effects, and surface functionalization.
- Discussion of protein nanostructures as carriers for anticancer drugs and theranostics.
- Examination of strategies for enhancing in vivo delivery and targeting of protein-based therapies.
- Overview of FDA-approved and clinical-stage protein-based anticancer formulations.
Main Results:
- Various proteins from animal, plant, and bacterial sources exhibit significant cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against cancer cells.
- Proteins can be functionalized to carry anticancer drugs and targeting ligands, enhancing delivery efficiency.
- Protein nanostructures show potential as carriers for cancer drugs and theranostic agents.
- Dietary proteins like bovine α-lactalbumin and hen egg-white lysozyme demonstrate anticancer activities.
Conclusions:
- Proteins offer a versatile platform for developing novel anticancer agents and drug delivery systems.
- Protein-based nanocarriers can improve the efficacy and targeting of cancer therapies.
- Further research and clinical trials are warranted to fully realize the potential of protein-based cancer treatments.
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