Anticancer Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides: Focus on Breast Cancer

Breast cancer impacts millions globally, with a significant annual rise in the incidence of new cases. Although considerable progress has been made in cancer therapies and numerous options exist to address this disease, the overall survival rates for individuals with breast cancer remain distinctly low. This situation is attributed to the emergence of resistance against chemotherapeutic agents used for breast cancer, along with the inadequate characteristics of the existing generation of oncological medications. Therefore, there is an imperative necessity for the creation of innovative treatments that exhibit minimal adverse effects, enhanced properties, and the absence of drug resistance. A noteworthy development in this field is the exploration of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are natural constituents of the innate immune system, as a novel class of anticancer therapeutics. AMPs display multiple advantageous traits that make them attractive candidates for cancer therapy. In this review, we will review recent research focused on the application of AMPs in breast cancer therapy and determine their mechanisms of action. We will also investigate the potential of combining AMP-based treatments with existing breast cancer management approaches. This study highlights the promising potential of AMPs as a novel approach to treating breast cancer, providing promise for less harmful and more efficient therapies.