Marine heterobranch mollusks-derived anticancer compounds with epigenetic mechanisms: a comprehensive review
Tamadon A. Mirzaei F. Mussin N.M. Zhilisbayeva K.R. Safarzoda Sharoffidin R.
January 2025Elsevier B.V.
Current Research in Biotechnology
2025#10
Marine natural products have long provided scaffolds for cancer drug discovery, with several mollusk-derived compounds such as dolastatins and Kahalalide F (C6) progressing into clinical evaluation. Marine heterobranch mollusks, in particular, produce or sequester structurally diverse metabolites that have attracted interest for their potent and selective anticancer activities. This comprehensive review highlights the diverse chemical classes of mollusk-derived metabolites, including terpenoids, alkaloids, and peptides, and their mechanisms of action, such as cytoskeletal disruption, DNA damage induction, and oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis. Notably, some compounds are selectively toxic to cancer cells by exploiting elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Emerging evidence indicates that methylthioadenosine analogs and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs (C12)) can modulate DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), suggesting new avenues for epigenetic cancer therapy. Despite challenges in sustainable sourcing, advancements in synthesis and drug delivery systems, including liposomal formulations, enhance their clinical translatability. This review underscores the potential of marine mollusk-derived compounds as innovative anticancer agents, emphasizing their unique mechanisms and therapeutic promise.
Anticancer compounds , Drug discovery , Epigenetic modulation , Marine mollusks , Selective cytotoxicity
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Department of Natural Sciences, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Surgery No. 2, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Languages, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Department of Natural Sciences
Department of Surgery No. 2
Department of Languages
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026