|
Newswise — University of South Florida chemist Bill
Baker, who spends much of his time diving in the frigid
waters of Antarctica retrieving tunicates, blob-like marine
animals, has isolated a compound in tunicate biochemistry
that may fight melanoma, a type of skin cancer rising
at alarming rates.
“Tunicates have proven to be an important source
of bioactive natural products,” said Baker, who experimented
with the tunicate Synocium adareanum, retrieved from the
shallow waters around Anvers Island. “We isolated
a natural product in the species and sent it to the National
Cancer Institute for testing against 60 different cancer
cell lines. NCI conclude the compounded inhibited melanoma,
a form of skin cancer that is rising in prevalence.”
Baker and colleagues Jim McClintock and Charles Amsler,
from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, named the
compound Palmerolide A after the area from which they
took the tunicates near Antarctica. Back in the USF lab,
graduate student Thushara Diyabalanage isolated the chemical
and obtained the structure of the compound before sending
it off to the NCI labs. There, Palmerolide A showed little
to no effect against cancer cell lines such as breast
cancer, prostate cancer and others, but its effect on
melanoma cells was nothing less than spectacular, said
Baker.
“It inhibited melanoma by three orders of magnitude,”
explained Baker, who is hopeful the compound can be tested
in laboratory animals, humans, and finally make it to
the market as an effective anti-melanoma drug.
The NCI maintains a databank of cancer cell lines and
researchers regularly submit compounds for testing and
NCI responded to Baker’s test by referring Palmerolide
A to the NCI’s Biological Evaluation Committee for
animal testing because of its huge impact on melanoma
cells.
According to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center library
(http://www.moffitt.usf.edu) of cancer information, melanoma
is the most serious form of skin cancer usually caused
by sun exposure. Its prevalence has risen by 1200 percent
over the last 70 years. People living for more than 10
years in the “Sunbelt” of the U.S. are at particular
risk. Risk factors also include a family history of melanoma
-
NEWSWISE-
|
