Tomato- and olive-derived proteins, hydrolysates and peptides in anticancer research: molecular findings and research...

Tomato and olive processing streams contain recoverable proteins, hydrolysates and peptides that have received far less attention than their carotenoids, phenolics and lipids. This review evaluates anticancer-related findings for these materials while separating direct anticancer-related experimental evidence, cancer-relevant mechanistic observations without a direct phenotype, general functional bioactivities and computational predictions. Molecular definition is considered separately from biological evidence. Tomato research includes a partially purified chitin-binding lectin preparation with tumor-related activity and cystine-knot miniproteins with antiangiogenic effects. Olive research includes antiproliferative seed hydrolysates and LLPSY, an isolated peptide tested in human cancer cells. The evidence is strongest in different areas: tomato includes defined antiangiogenic miniproteins tested through endothelial and zebrafish models, whereas olive includes a sequence-resolved peptide tested across several human cancer-cell endpoints. These differences reflect non-matched research designs and do not establish greater anticancer potential for either crop. Nevertheless, direct anticancer-related evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, and its interpretation is constrained by incomplete molecular definition of some active preparations, limited candidate-specific digestion and absorption data, and uncertainty regarding the physiological relevance of many in vitro exposure levels. Most other studies address protein recovery, peptide production, antioxidant or metabolic functions, or in silico prediction; these findings support candidate production or characterization but are not treated as anticancer evidence. Across both crops, the main gap is the incomplete connection between molecular identity, direct target validation, gastrointestinal fate and physiologically plausible in vivo exposure. Future work should strengthen reproducible production, identify the active components of complex preparations, test defined candidates mechanistically and connect biological activity with digestion, exposure and safety.