From Marine Peptides to Oncology: The Therapeutic Potential of Conotoxins in Cancer Treatment

Marine-derived conotoxins, developed selective cancer therapy lead compounds that cone snails secrete as potent peptide toxins able to alter ion channels and disrupt cancer cell communication processes. The research explores the mechanism by which conotoxins trigger programmed cell death, combat drug resistance, and restrict cancer cell proliferation at the molecular level. Their clinical application is restricted by their instability, along with rapid degradation and adverse pharmacological activity. The therapeutic value of peptides is furthered by backbone cyclization and PEGylation strategies, which increase bioavailability coupled with improvement in metabolic stability. Conotoxins offer a new kind of therapy since they are capable of specifically curing aberrant ion movements characterized in cancer cells, which result in resistance to therapy. Bioactive peptides have a promising future as cancer therapy revolutionizers when administered via nanocarrier systems and maximized by means of chemical refinement techniques.