Bacteriocins in Cancer Treatment: Mechanisms and Clinical Potentials.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer remains a major global health threat, with conventional chemotherapy facing challenges of toxicity and drug resistance.
• Bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides from microbes, are emerging as potential anticancer agents due to their selective toxicity towards tumor cells.
• Their cationic and amphiphilic properties facilitate targeted cell membrane disruption and induction of cancer cell death.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms of action of bacteriocins as anticancer agents.
• To explore the current research status and potential of bacteriocins in cancer therapy.
• To identify strategies for overcoming limitations and advancing clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific databases focusing on bacteriocins and cancer research.
• Analysis of bacteriocin properties, including structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of action.
• Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo studies investigating bacteriocin efficacy and safety.

Main Results:

• Bacteriocins exhibit targeted antitumor activity by disrupting cancer cell membranes and inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and inhibiting metastasis.
• These mechanisms contribute to low drug resistance and high selectivity, differentiating them from traditional chemotherapeutics.
• Challenges such as in vivo hydrolysis and hemolysis limit current clinical use.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriocins represent a promising class of natural compounds for developing novel, less toxic anticancer therapies.
• Structural modifications and integration with nanotechnology are key strategies to enhance their stability and efficacy for clinical translation.
• Further research is warranted to fully realize the therapeutic potential of bacteriocins in oncology.