Peptide Fractions Extracted from the Hemolymph of Inhibit Growth and Motility and Enhance the Effects of Traditional Chemotherapeutics in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and multiple mutations. Chemotherapy is often associated with harmful side effects, and cancer cells may become resistant through various mechanisms. New approaches, which are able to address both the toxicity and resistance issues of chemotherapy, are of primary importance in cancer research. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), naturally occurring molecules in the innate immune system of all living organisms, have a wide spectrum of cytotoxic activities against cancer cells and could be a promising alternative to actual chemotherapeutics. Here, we tested peptide fractions, rich in AMPs, extracted from the hemolymph of the larvae of the insect on the HT29 and HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells, observing cell growth inhibition by cell accumulation in the G2/M phase and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, the peptide extract induced a significant cytoskeleton reorganization, resulting in reduced motility. These effects were more evident with the peptide fractions obtained from the -infected larvae. The peptide fractions also enhanced the effects of traditional chemotherapeutics. Overall, the results obtained suggest the presence of biologically active molecules in the hemolymph of larvae, confirming that insect-derived peptides are a promising research area in oncology.