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Marine Bioactive Compounds as Promising Leads in Colorectal Cancer Drug Discovery
Deepak Kumar1, Pallavi Gupta, Shalini Yadav1
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mahayogi Gorakhnath University Gorakhpur, (U.P.), 273007, India.
Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
|August 11, 2026
Summary
Marine compounds show promise for treating colorectal cancer (CRC), offering new therapeutic avenues beyond conventional methods. Research highlights their potential to overcome drug resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a significant global health challenge with increasing incidence and mortality.
- Conventional treatments for CRC are limited by late diagnosis, severe side effects, and drug resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of marine bioactive compounds as alternative therapies for colorectal cancer.
- To review the mechanisms of action, sources, and challenges associated with marine-derived compounds in CRC treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of marine bioactive compounds and their effects on colorectal cancer models.
- Analysis of diverse marine natural products, including alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides, polysaccharides, and carotenoids.
- Examination of marine organisms as sources of these therapeutic agents.
Main Results:
- Marine compounds exhibit diverse anti-CRC mechanisms, including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of angiogenesis.
- Significant in vitro and in vivo activity against CRC models has been observed, with some compounds advancing to clinical trials.
- Marine biopolymers and peptides show potential for targeting cancer stem cells and key signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- Marine bioactive compounds offer a promising alternative to conventional CRC treatments.
- Overcoming challenges like low bioavailability and complex extraction is key to clinical translation.
- Further research, including nanotechnology and combination therapies, is essential for developing effective marine-derived CRC treatments.