Sea Sponge cancer treatment research

Surfacing new life-saving cancer treatments from the world's oceans is the focus of one of 73 new research grants announced today by the Canadian Cancer Society.

The $685,000, five-year grant is focused on developing new anti-cancer drugs inspired by animals that live in the sea. From Vancouver's coasts to the coral reefs of Papua New Guinea, the research team will be collecting hundreds of sea animals, such as sponges, and examining the powerful chemicals they house inside.

A drug developed by Canadian Cancer Society researcher Dr. Raymond Andersen during a previous grant from the Society is already being tested in phase II clinical trials with lung cancer patients. Another developed to treat blood cancers such as multiple myeloma is looking promising in laboratory tests and with the new funding announced today, Dr. Andersen is optimistic it will move to clinical trials soon.

"The ocean is a rich and diverse source of inspiration for cancer treatment," says Dr. Andersen. "Many common anti-cancer drugs have come from nature, such as the Pacific yew tree and even microorganisms found in soil. We're building on this successful track record by looking to the ocean for new ideas."

Dr. Andersen and his team will screen the marine-based chemicals they find for their cancer fighting abilities. They will then produce synthetic versions of only the most promising ones and test their potential as new treatments on laboratory-grown cancer cells.