Current Research on Biosciences and Biotechnology
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)

From silk waste to cancer therapy: a review of the therapeutic potential and in vitro cytotoxicity of sericin

Lisya Mutiara Dewi (Graduate Program in Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16424, Indonesia)
Moch Saifur Rijal (Doctoral Program of Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia)
Lia Amelia Tresna Wulan Asri (Materials Science and Engineering Research Group, Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia)
Astari Dwiranti (Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Biological Systems (CEMBIOS) Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16424, Indonesia)
Anom Bowolaksono (Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Biological Systems (CEMBIOS) Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16424, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Aug 2026

Abstract

Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, often leading to death. The high incidence of cancer has led to continued exploration of potential therapeutics, particularly those derived from natural products. One of the potential natural products is sericin, which has been shown to have anticancer effects against several types of cancer through various in vitro studies. Previous studies generally indicate that sericin's anticancer effects are reflected in its ability to reduce cancer cell viability and induce apoptosis by regulating the expression levels of its related proteins. Studies have suggested that the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins are known to influence the metastatic potential of cancer cells. Although the specific antimetastatic effects of sericin, an industrial waste by-product, remain largely unexplored, this review comprehensively evaluates its role as an anticancer agent and its underlying cellular mechanisms. Sericin modulates the apoptotic pathway by shifting the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, specifically through upregulating the pro-apoptotic Bax and suppressing the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, leading to the sequential activation of pro-caspase-9 and downstream effector caspases. Beyond its established pro-apoptotic activity, we highlight the ability of sericin to restore the apoptotic threshold, which may effectively limit the survival of circulating tumour cells and their capacity to metastasize. Consequently, while sericin offers a promising frontier for future therapeutic investigation, realizing this remarkable potential requires addressing critical experimental gaps, specifically the current lack of dedicated in vitro migration/ invasion assays and in vivo metastasis models to evaluate sericin impact on disrupting the metastatic cascade.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

crbb

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Materials Science & Nanotechnology Medicine & Pharmacology

Description

The Current Research on Biosciences and Biotechnology (CRBB) encourages researchers to publish works related to the use of the biosciences and biotechnology in understanding the world around us. From Health and Medicine to Advanced Materials, these state-of-the-art research offer novel insights in a ...