International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 7 authors, 3 centres
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This narrative review summarizes preclinical evidence on the antitumor properties of matrikines (MKs), bioactive peptides derived from the extracellular matrix. The central conclusion is that MKs from various sources show promise as potential components for antitumor therapy and functional foods, but require further study.
This is a narrative review that summarizes and analyzes preclinical and laboratory data on the antitumor activity of matrikines (MKs). The authors discuss MKs as products of enzymatic transformation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) from various origins, including marine echinoderms. The central results are drawn from experimental studies on MKs, particularly those from echinoderms generated using red king crab proteolytic enzymes, which showed antitumor activity comparable to endostatin but with varying effectiveness. A key limitation is that the review focuses on preclinical evidence, and the role of MKs in the actual tumor microenvironment in humans is poorly understood. The implications suggest MKs are promising for future combination therapy and functional food ingredients, but their clinical development is still in early stages.
