Taylor MillerMarine Anti-Cancer Compounds

Background

• Cancer still claims the lives of many• 1 out of the 6 cancer treatments

hinders tumor growth

What’s the deal?• Marine organisms produce anti-

cancer compounds

Current status of marine natural products in anticancer preclinical or clinical trials

Compound (figure number)

Source organism Chemical class Molecular target Current status

Ecteinascidin 743 Ecteinascidia turbinate (tunicate; possible bacterial source)

Tetrahydroisoquinolone alkaloid

Tubulin Phase II

Dolastatin 10 Dolabella auricularia/Symploca sp. (mollusc/cyanobacterium)

Linear peptide Tubulin Phase II

Bryostatin 1 Bugula neritina (bryozoan)

Macrocyclic lactone PKC Phase II

Synthadotin Dolabella auricularia/Symploca sp. (synthetic analogue)

Linear peptide Tubulin Phase II

Kahalalide F Elysia rufescens/Bryopsis sp. (mollusc/green alga)

Cyclic depsipeptide Lysosomes/erbB pathway

Phase II

Oceanography• My future career• Help cure or prevent cancer

Why do you care?

• You may know someone

affected by cancer

What lies ahead?