LASONOLIDES

Source: Gulf of Mexico deep-sea sponge Forcepia sp. (PORIFERA)
Activity: anticancer; MOA under investigation
Status:Preclinical

The lasonolides are a series of marine natural products under investigation for the treatment of cancer. The compounds were isolated in 1994 by scientists from the Harbor Branch Division of Biomedical Marine Research from the sponge Forcepia sp. found in Gulf of Mexico deep-sea habitats.

These compounds are very potent and show especially promising properties for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. They kill cancer cells in a different way than most other cancer drugs. The exact mode of action is not yet fully understood, and is an area of active research.

In addition to anti-proliferative and antitumor properties, these novel macrolide compounds display antifungal activity as well.

References

Lasonolides overview by Dr. Amy Wright, HBOI Division of Biomedical Marine Research:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/...sept10.html