The word cancer is one of the most frightening words we can hear. In the year 2007, we still don't understand many things about the biology and physiology of many types of cancer cells. As a physician, I can tell you that it seems odd that we sometimes have to poison the entire human body in an effort to eradicate the unwelcome visitor to our bodies. Someday, future scientists will look back with astonishment when the key to the cure is found. However, there are many cancers that CAN be cured, or, even held at bay for years or decades thanks to the research done to find new treatments.
An Uphill Battle
If you look at statistics, finding a successful new chemotherapeutic agent is an uphill battle. Cancer cells are normal cells that have lost control of their growth and orderliness. A new treatment must be able to selectively kill a cancer cell while leaving a healthy cell 'viable'. Targets for a cancer cell could include it's DNA, RNA, or blood supply among many others. Look at some statistics:
One Success
The Pacific Yew tree yielded the chemical called Taxol, Taxus brevifolia and is used in the fight against breast, ovarian and lung cancer.
Possibilities from Your Tank?
At the present time, there seem to be approximately 22 marine organisms under study for possible use in the fight against cancer. Could they be in your marine tank? Just a few to learn about for now:
Ecteinascidin 743
Ecteinascidin 743 comes from the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata , also known as a sea squirt. This sea squirt is a filter feeder and is commonly found in the Mediterranean and Carribbean. The extract is promising with breast, non-small cell lung and ovarian cancers.
Auristatin
Auristatin is a synthetic chemical that is fabricated based on Dolastatin 10. Dolastatin 10 was originally isolated from the Indian Ocean sea hare, Dolabella auricularia, a common algae eater that you can buy in marine circles. In addition to the above cancers, it is promising against myeloid leukemia.
E7389
E7389 is the name given to a synthesized derivative of the sponge isolate halichondrin B. Halichondrin B is obtained from Halichondria okadai and from other sponge species including an Axinella sp., Phakellia carteri , Lisodendoryx sp. , sponges that are found from various oceans around the world.
Bryostatin
Bryostatin is obtained from the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Huge amounts were needed to be used in initial studies and findings show that, alone, it's results were not promising but when combined with other chemotherapeutic agents, there was hope.
Eleutherobin
Eleutherobin was initially obtained from coral in Australian waters but this was ended for political reasons. The same chemical was then able to be obtained from the Caribbean gorgonian Erythropodium caribaeorum. This drug in combination with Taxol seems to have succesful results in causing cellular death in various cancer lines.
Thoughts
As with all our discussions here on TFF, consideration will always go back to ecological concerns:
-will harvesting these organisms devastate their populations?
-will removal have an impact on other species?
-what is the risk/benefit to the marine environment when it comes saving human lives?
Food for thought.
SH
An Uphill Battle
If you look at statistics, finding a successful new chemotherapeutic agent is an uphill battle. Cancer cells are normal cells that have lost control of their growth and orderliness. A new treatment must be able to selectively kill a cancer cell while leaving a healthy cell 'viable'. Targets for a cancer cell could include it's DNA, RNA, or blood supply among many others. Look at some statistics:
[*] Failure rate of all preclinical drug candidates: >> 99.9%
[*] Failure rate of preclinical anticancer natural product candidates, through 1981: (natural product = a discrete chemical that is extracted from a living organism)
[*] Failure rate of all Phase I drug candidates: ~ 30%
[*] Failure rate of all Phase II drug candidates: ~ 50%
[*] Failure rate of all Phase III drug candidates: ~ 50%
[*] Failure after marketing: ~ 10%
[*] It costs about $1.2 billion in current dollars to develop a new drug, from discovery to commercialization .
One Success
The Pacific Yew tree yielded the chemical called Taxol, Taxus brevifolia and is used in the fight against breast, ovarian and lung cancer.
Possibilities from Your Tank?
At the present time, there seem to be approximately 22 marine organisms under study for possible use in the fight against cancer. Could they be in your marine tank? Just a few to learn about for now:
Ecteinascidin 743
Ecteinascidin 743 comes from the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata , also known as a sea squirt. This sea squirt is a filter feeder and is commonly found in the Mediterranean and Carribbean. The extract is promising with breast, non-small cell lung and ovarian cancers.
Auristatin
Auristatin is a synthetic chemical that is fabricated based on Dolastatin 10. Dolastatin 10 was originally isolated from the Indian Ocean sea hare, Dolabella auricularia, a common algae eater that you can buy in marine circles. In addition to the above cancers, it is promising against myeloid leukemia.
E7389
E7389 is the name given to a synthesized derivative of the sponge isolate halichondrin B. Halichondrin B is obtained from Halichondria okadai and from other sponge species including an Axinella sp., Phakellia carteri , Lisodendoryx sp. , sponges that are found from various oceans around the world.
Bryostatin
Bryostatin is obtained from the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Huge amounts were needed to be used in initial studies and findings show that, alone, it's results were not promising but when combined with other chemotherapeutic agents, there was hope.
Eleutherobin
Eleutherobin was initially obtained from coral in Australian waters but this was ended for political reasons. The same chemical was then able to be obtained from the Caribbean gorgonian Erythropodium caribaeorum. This drug in combination with Taxol seems to have succesful results in causing cellular death in various cancer lines.
Thoughts
As with all our discussions here on TFF, consideration will always go back to ecological concerns:
-will harvesting these organisms devastate their populations?
-will removal have an impact on other species?
-what is the risk/benefit to the marine environment when it comes saving human lives?
Food for thought.
SH