Harnessing Natural Products of Marine Origin for Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death

Abstract

Conventional cancer chemotherapy aims to kill highly proliferating tumor cells and is often immunosuppressive due to its off-target side effects. However, certain cytotoxic cancer chemotherapeutic drugs can kill tumor cells by triggering immunogenic cell death (ICD). Cells undergoing ICD release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to activate robust innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. Despite many compounds being able to trigger one or two hallmarks of ICD, very few bona fide ICD inducers are available. Identification of bioactive natural ICD inducers with low side effects and high tolerability represents a priority in biomedical research. In this review, we discuss the various strategies to regulate the hallmarks of ICD and enhance immunogenic potentials. We focus on evaluating the potential of natural compounds of marine origin to amplify the effects of ICD and therefore serve as novel therapeutic anti-cancer agents alone or in combination with existent chemo- or immune-therapies.