Advancing cancer therapeutics: a mini-review of the challenges and opportunities in exploring dinoflagellate-derived bioactive molecules through human cell culture models

This review outlines a critical segment of the integration process involved in the discovery of compounds with biological activity as well as pharmacological and biotechnological potential, specifically those derived from dinoflagellates. It discusses the challenges and opportunities in exploring these bioactive molecules in pharmacological research. The objective is to detail some key cell culture techniques, which involve the precise control of experimental conditions and the monitoring of cellular response parameters —including viability, proliferation, cytotoxicity, and cell death— and the appropriate selection of cancerous and non-cancerous human cell lines. Furthermore, this review explores the impact of the various limitations associated with the large-scale biomass production required to obtain pure compounds. The integration of these approaches through specific in vitro assays enables the biological characterization of bioactive compounds or active fractions, underscoring the essential role of cell culture as a strategic tool in the search for novel anticancer agents from marine dinoflagellates.