An international research team continues to investigate bioactive substances and synthesizes them from a sea spongeDevelopment of cancer therapies. According to the researchers, such molecules can fight cancer cells that are resistant to common chemotherapy. The isolate also has an interesting dual mechanism of action.
Using natural bioactive substances against cancer
The scientists tested the biological effect of the marine alkaloid 3,10-dibromofascaplysine on various cancer cells in prostate cancer. These are usually resistant to standard docetaxel-based chemotherapy. They first isolated the compound from the sea sponge Fascaplysinopsis reticulata and then synthesized it chemically. The substance forces tumor cells to die via programmed cell death. This process is called “apoptosis” and is considered the most beneficial way for cancer drugs to work. The mechanism investigated also activated an enzyme that had a protective effect against such cancer cells. According to the study authors, bioactive substances synthesized in this way, in addition to their own activity, work well in combination with several already approved cancer drugs. In addition, such a treatment would further strengthen the effect against tumors.
However, such substances are quite toxic to other cells. In their laboratory, the scientists are therefore trying to modify the structure of these compounds. This is intended to reduce their cytotoxic effect on normal cells while maintaining the necessary antitumor therapy. The aim is to produce bioactive substances for targeted treatment with a minimum of side effects for healthy body cells. The researchers also commented on the time required to develop the commercial drug. They are talking about the 10-15 year horizon because of the need for long preliminary and further clinical studies. What the authors plan to do nextthis studyto investigate how 3,10-dibromofascaplysin affects non-cancer cells. They are already running a related project to report results in 2021. The compound studied during this research activated not only cells that kill tumors, but also those that are resistant to chemotherapy.
