Structures and potential antitumor activity of sesterterpenes from the marine sponge Hyrtios communis

The extract of marine sponge Hyrtios communis was found to inhibit activation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in T47D human breast tumor cells. Bioassay-guided isolation led to the identification of six new (1-6) and five previously reported (7-11) sesterterpene analogues and two unrelated sesterterpenes. Two new sesterterpenes, thorectidaeolide A (1) and 4-acetoxythorectidaeolide A (2), and luffariellolide (11) were among the most potent inhibitors of hypoxia (1% O₂)-induced HIF-1 activation (IC₅₀ values of 3.2, 3.5, and 3.6 μM, respectively). Luffariellolide (11) exhibited a significant level of cytotoxicity that mirrored its HIF-1 inhibitory activity. Neither compound 1, compound 2, nor any of the other less active sesterterpenes suppressed breast tumor T47D or MDA-MB-231 cell viability.