Marine-Derived Compounds as Dual Modulators of Lipid Metabolism and Tumor Suppression in Obese Cancer Models

Obesity-associated cancers represent a significant public health burden, driven by complex metabolic and inflammatory alterations. One emerging therapeutic strategy is the use of marine-derived bioactive compounds that exhibit dual functionality in modulating lipid metabolism and exerting antitumor effects. These compounds, derived from algae, sponges, tunicates, and marine microbes, have demonstrated promise in preclinical models of obesity-related malignancies. Their mechanisms of action often involve the regulation of key lipid signaling pathways such as AMPK, PPAR, and SREBP, as well as inhibition of tumor-promoting cascades including PI3K/Akt/mTOR and NF-κB. Additionally, these marine agents influence adipokine signaling, mitigate chronic inflammation, and improve metabolic homeostasis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of marine natural products with dual modulatory roles in lipid metabolism and cancer suppression. It highlights current evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies, discusses pharmacokinetic challenges, and suggests translational strategies, including advanced delivery systems and combinatorial therapies, to enhance therapeutic outcomes. The review also emphasizes the importance of integrating multi-omics approaches to fully elucidate the bioactivity and molecular targets of these marine-derived compounds in obese cancer models.