Deep sea doctor
The sea could be the key to cancer treatment
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Tuesday, 06, Feb 2007 11:45
Scientists in the US believe they have developed a new cancer treatment using the toxin from a sea creature.
Diazona Angulata, a reclusive organism that resembles a translucent ring donut, emits the liquid to repel potential predators.
The life form is found off the coast of the Philippines and lives in colonies anchored to rocks.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Centre found that a synthetic version of its toxin could be used to block the development of cancer cells without causing damage to healthy cells.
Studies using mice were successful in reducing tumour growth without some of the side effects associated with other cancer drugs.
"This is a truly exciting result," said Dr John Schwab of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which partly funded the work.
"Not only has this UT Southwestern team identified a potent anti-cancer drug, but its unique mode of action avoids the kinds of side effects that make cancer chemotherapy so difficult," he added.
"It's a great example of how NIH support for fundamental chemical research can benefit the American health-care consumer."
The study appears in the online version of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.