Scientists hunt for sea sponges to fight cancer

World Today

Scientists hunt for sea sponges to fight cancer

Researchers are looking below the surface of the water to help extend the lives of some cancer patients. Scientists at Florida Atlantic University are hunting for sea sponges that produce a beneficial chemical. CCTV’s Nitza Soledad Perez filed this report from Miami in the U.S. state of Florida.

More details:

  • Sponges, which are living animals, produce different chemicals. Some of these invertebrates found off the coast of Florida contain compounds that fight pancreatic, breast and ovarian cancer.
  • The National Cancer Institute is conducting various research studies. One of them is for a drug called Eribulin. It could be the cure for a common type of bone cancer but time and costs are factors in getting approval.
  • Eribulin is already approved to treat late stages of breast cancer. Another sponge derivative drug, Cytarabine, is used for the treatment of leukemia.