Seaweed helps cure malignant cancer

Scientists have discovered a new compound in algae that has potentially effective anti-cancer properties.

According to a research team from the University of Oregon (USA), a compound called coibamide A in algae can fight two of the most serious forms of cancer: brain tumors and triple negative breast cancer. Coibamide A cut off the cancer cells' ability to connect to blood vessels and other cells, triggering the death of the diseased cells.

The discovery could lead to new drugs to treat malignant cancers.

The compound coibamide A in algae has been found to fight two of the most serious forms of cancer: brain tumors and malignant breast cancer.

"There is no drug in clinical use or in any clinical trials that works in this way so far," said Dr Jane Ishmael, who led the research. "We are using it to try to find a new pathway to trigger cell death in cancer cells, which are considered to be very resistant to cell death."

Coibamide A was first discovered by Dr. Kerry McPhail of the University of Oregon while diving in Panama's Coiba National Park eight years ago. The scientist collected samples of blue-green algae called cyanobacteria and discovered that they were hybrids of at least three species growing on rocks in areas with fast-moving water. Similar algal communities have also been found in the Red Sea and off the coast of South Africa.

Dr. McPhail isolated coibamide A from the original samples and ran it through a screening system to look for anti-cancer activity. The compound showed a pattern of activity unlike any other, suggesting it may fight cancer through a mechanism not yet observed in current drugs.

The screening process also revealed that coibamide A has the ability to destroy many types of cancer cells, especially breast cancer cells and malignant brain cancer - glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is difficult to treat because the tumors grow very quickly and do not respond well to chemotherapy drugs. However, in animal models of brain tumors, treatment with coibamide A significantly reduced the size of the tumors.

According to khoahoc.tv