Cancer is a major public health concern across the globe and it is the most devastating disease among non-communicable diseases. In 2018, 18.1 million new cancer cases were diagnosed and 9.5 million cancer-related deaths were reported globally. The cancer incidence is expected to reach 29.5 million with a death of 16.4 million annually by 2040 worldwide. Humans suffer from about 200 different types of cancer and many of them have a small number of approved anticancer agents. Therefore, it is essential to develop novel anticancer agents to reduce cancer-driven lethality.
The metabolites of natural sources such as plants, bacteria, and fungi have served as an inexhaustible source of anticancer agents. Plants are common choices for cancer treatment in many countries, and more than 3000 plants worldwide have been reported to possess anticancer properties. In addition, over 13000 natural compounds endowed with different pharmacological properties have been isolated from different bacterial sources, and some of them have anti-cancer properties. The use of metabolites in anticancer agents may lead to medical advances.
Applications
Metabolites are viewed to be more biologically friendly and less toxic to normal cells. Thus, around 49% of the small molecules approved for cancer chemotherapy between 1940 and 2014 were metabolites. They have unexpected anticancer activity and are used as anticancer agents. Here are some examples.
- Bacterial metabolites used as anticancer agents
Bacterial metabolites have an important function in cancer therapy. Several bacterial metabolites have been used clinically, including actinomycin D, bleomycin, carfilzomib, doxorubicin, ixabepilone, mitomycin C, pentostatin, rapalogs, and romidepsin. They have significant therapeutic effect on a variety of cancers. For example, doxorubicin has been approved for the treatment of various human malignancies including cancers of breast, endometrium, gastric, liver, ovary, kidney, head and neck, leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and childhood cancer therapy[1].
- Plant metabolites used as anticancer agents
Plant metabolites, especially plant secondary metabolites, have great potential for anticancer. Some plant secondary metabolites have been used in cancer therapy. For example, paclitaxel, is a complex molecule isolated from the bark of Taxus brevifolia Nutt. It prevents the depolymerization of microtubules during division of human tumor cells. Paclitaxel has become one of the most active cancer chemotherapeutic drugs known[2]. Other plant secondary metabolites are under clinical trial development such as curcumin and Ingenol Mebutate.
- Marine invertebrate metabolites used as anticancer agents
Marine invertebrates provide rich source of metabolites with anticancer activity. Several marine invertebrates-derived anticancer agents have been approved for the treatment of cancer, which include cytarabine, trabectedin, halichondrin B, eribulin, monomethylauristatin E and dolastatin 1. They have remarkable anticancer properties. For example, trabectedins can be used for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma as well as recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer in combination therapy[3].
What Can We Do?
Alfa Chemistry has a profound research foundation in the field of anticancer agents. In our company, you can find the appropriate metabolites for the research of anticancer agents. Alfa Chemistry will serve you with the most abundant experience and affordable price. Please feel free to contact us if you have a need.
References
- Mohan, C.D.; et al. Bacteria as a treasure house of secondary metabolites with anticancer potential. Seminars in Cancer Biology. 2022, 2(86): 998-1013.
- Seca, A.M.; Pinto, D.C. Plant secondary metabolites as anticancer agents: successes in clinical trials and therapeutic application. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018, 19: 263.
- Gomes, N.G.M.; et al. Marine invertebrate metabolites with anticancer activities: solutions to the "supply problem". Marine Drugs. 2016, 14: 98.
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