Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts
Published on: June 26, 2018
Diving for drugs: tunicate anticancer compounds
1David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095-1763, USA. cooper@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract:
The marine biosphere boasts tremendous biodiversity replete with structurally unique, active and selective secondary metabolites. Bioprospecting for antitumor compounds has been rewarding, and tunicates have been especially successful in yielding prospective cancer therapies. These compounds are now subjected to clinical trials in Europe and the USA. With the ongoing search for potent and specific anticancer drugs, in this article we discuss the unique perspectives, compounds and opportunities afforded by this rich source of potential pharmaceuticals. We discuss marine-derived antitumor drugs, their structures, and their various types and levels of antitumor activities in bench and bedside efforts.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Anthelminthic Agents

