KAHALALIDE F

Molecular Weight: 1477.87 g/mol
Molecular Formula: C₇₅H₁₂₄N₁₄O₁₆

Source: Hawaiian sacoglossan Elysia rufescens (MOLLUSCA)
Activity: Cytotoxin; gene inhibitor
Status: Currently in Phase II clinical trials

Kahalalide F was isolated from a sacoglossan (sea slug) mollusc, Elysia rufescens, collected from Hawaii.

Kahalalide F appears capable of disrupting lysosome [def] membranes within certain target cells, thereby initiating apoptosis (programmed cell death). The drug also appears to inhibit the expression of certain specific genes that are involved in DNA replication and cell proliferation, thereby inhibiting tumor spreading and growth.

The drug shows promise in treating a broad range of tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, androgen-independent prostate cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Under development by the Spanish marine pharmaceutical company PharmaMar, Kahalalide F completed Phase I human clinical trials in patients, and entered into Phase II trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in melanoma in July 2004.

NCBI PubChem compound summary page - [ LINK ]

NCBI PubMed biomedical literature citations and abstracts - [ LINK ]

References

Kijjoa A and P Sawangwong. 2004. Drugs and cosmetics from the sea (review paper). Mar. Drugs 2004:73-82.

07/19/04 PharmaMar News Release: Kahalalide F initiates phase II trials in lung cancer and melanoma:
http://www.pharmamar.com/en/press/news_release.cfm?newsReleaseID=82&year=2004