The Phylum Bryozoa as a Promising Source of Anticancer Drugs

Abstract

Recent advances in sampling and novel techniques in drug synthesis and isolation have promoted the discovery of anticancer agents from marine organisms to combat this major threat to public health worldwide. Bryozoans, which are filter-feeding, aquatic invertebrates often characterized by a calcified skeleton, are an excellent source of pharmacologically interesting compounds including well-known chemical classes such as alkaloids and polyketides. This review covers the literature for secondary metabolites isolated from marine cheilostome and ctenostome bryozoans that have shown potential as cancer drugs. Moreover, we highlight examples such as bryostatins, the most known class of marine-derived compounds from this animal phylum, which are advancing through anticancer clinical trials due to their low toxicity and antineoplastic activity. The bryozoan antitumor compounds discovered until now show a wide range of chemical diversity and biological activities. Therefore, more research focusing on the isolation of secondary metabolites with potential anticancer properties from bryozoans and other overlooked taxa covering wider geographic areas is needed for an efficient bioprospecting of natural products.

The Phylum Bryozoa: From Biology to Biomedical Potential

“…Understanding how natural products affect these significant members of benthic communities will shed more light onto the diversity and potential of bryozoan-associated secondary compounds. The high potential of bryozoan metabolites as anticancer agents has been recently reviewed by Wu et al (2020), Tian et al (2018), and Figuerola and Avila (2019). In the current review, additional information about bryozoan metabolites with potential for overcoming cancer chemoresistance have been discussed.…”

“…Thirteen species have so far been analyzed for bioactive compounds in this group: Flustra foliacea, Securiflustra securifrons, Chartella papyracea, Hincksinoflustra denticulata, Tegella cf. spitzbergensis, Bugula neritina, Virididentula dentata, Bugulina flabellata, Caulibugula inermis, Tricellaria ternata, Dendrobeania murrayana, and Sessibugula translucens [10,12].…”

“…Within the most derived clade in Figure 3, eight species have so far been examined for bioactive compounds: Aspidostoma giganteum, Myriapora truncata, Primavelans insculpta, Phidolopora pacifica, Watersipora cucullata, Watersipora subtorquata, Pentapora fascialis, and Cryptosula pallasiana [10,12].…”

“…Bryozoan metabolites exhibiting in vitro anticancer properties were comprehensively and recently reviewed by Pejin et al [111], Wu et al [11], Tian et al [10], and Figuerola and Avila [12]. Bioactive bryozoan metabolites were also discussed by Skropeta and Wei [112] reviewing advances in deep-sea natural product research, as well as by Hegazy et al [113] reviewing biomedical leads from Red Sea marine invertebrates.…”

“…It outlines aspects about general biology and evolutionary history of bryozoans and illustrates how bryozoans with the help of their metabolites shape chemoecologial interactions in the wild (Section 2). As anticancer activities of bryozoan metabolites have been recently reviewed by several authors [10][11][12], this review summarizes how selected compounds from bryozoans may complement existing treatments while outlining the shortcomings of current cancer treatments, as well as the problems and mechanisms associated with metastatic growth (Sections 3 and 4). Compounds holding promise to treat Alzheimer's disease, post-stroke damage, and Parkinson's disease are treated in Section 5.…”