Cancer treatment remains a significant challenge due to issues such as acquired resistance to conventional therapies and the occurrence of adverse treatment-related toxicities. In recent years, researchers have turned their attention to the microbial world in search of novel and effective drugs to combat this devastating disease. Microbial derived secondary metabolites have proven to be a valuable source of biologically active compounds, which exhibit diverse functions and have demonstrated potential as treatments for various human diseases. The exploration of these compounds has provided valuable insights into their mechanisms of action against cancer cells. In-depth studies have been conducted on clinically established microbial metabolites, unraveling their anticancer properties, and shedding light on their therapeutic potential. This review aims to comprehensively examine the anticancer mechanisms of these established microbial metabolites. Additionally, it highlights the emerging therapies derived from these metabolites, offering a glimpse into the immense potential they hold for anticancer drug discovery. Furthermore, this review delves into approved treatments and major drug candidates currently undergoing clinical trials, focusing on specific molecular targets. It also addresses the challenges and issues encountered in the field of anticancer drug research and development. It also presents a comprehensive exposition of the contemporary panorama concerning microbial metabolites serving as a reservoir for anticancer agents, thereby illuminating their auspicious prospects and the prospect of forthcoming strides in the domain of cancer therapeutics.

由于对常规疗法的获得性耐药性和不良治疗相关毒性的发生等问题，癌症治疗仍然是一个重大挑战。近年来，研究人员将注意力转向微生物世界，寻找新型有效的药物来对抗这种毁灭性的疾病。微生物衍生的次生代谢产物已被证明是生物活性化合物的宝贵来源，其具有多种功能，并显示出治疗各种人类疾病的潜力。对这些化合物的探索为了解它们对抗癌细胞的作用机制提供了宝贵的见解。人们对临床确定的微生物代谢物进行了深入研究，揭示了它们的抗癌特性，并揭示了它们的治疗潜力。本综述旨在全面研究这些已确定的微生物代谢物的抗癌机制。此外，它还强调了源自这些代谢物的新兴疗法，让人们一睹它们在抗癌药物发现方面的巨大潜力。此外，本次综述深入研究了已批准的治疗方法和目前正在进行临床试验的主要候选药物，重点关注特定的分子靶点。它还解决了抗癌药物研发领域遇到的挑战和问题。它还全面阐述了微生物代谢物作为抗癌药物储库的当代全景，从而阐明了它们的美好前景以及癌症治疗领域即将取得进展的前景。