APPLICATIONS OF FISH LECTINS AS A POTENTIAL ANTI-CANCER THERAPEUTIC AGENT

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges worldwide, necessitating the discovery of novel therapeutic agents with high specificity and minimal side effects. Fish-derived lectins, a diverse group of pattern recognition molecules, have emerged as promising candidates owing to their unique carbohydrate-binding specificity and ability to modulate tumor progression. These lectins, including C-type lectins, galectins, rhamnose-binding lectins, and others, exhibit anticancer activity through mechanisms such as apoptosis induction, autophagy, inhibition of angiogenesis, and suppression of metastasis. Several studies have demonstrated their effectiveness against a wide range of cancer cell lines, including breast, liver, ovarian, and lung cancers, with potential applications in both diagnosis and therapy. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of fish lectins when conjugated with other compounds enhances their therapeutic potential, positioning them as innovative tools in oncology. However, despite compelling preclinical evidence, further mechanistic insights and translational studies are needed to fully realize their role in clinical applications.