Pipeline Project B: Anticancer Effects of Marine Natural Projects from the Caribbean Sea
Co-Investigators
Abimael Rodriguez, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Yasuko Kondo, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Robert A. Newman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Timothy Madden, Pharm.D., Associate Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Charles Conrad, M.D., Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Natural products play a major role in the discovery and development of drugs for human diseases. Specifically for cancers, more than 60% of drugs are derived from natural products. The ocean is one of the major sources of natural compounds. Some of marine organism-derived compounds are currently on clinical trials as anticancer drugs. Our long-term goal is to develop new anticancer drugs from natural compounds in the Caribbean Sea. In the present proposal, through our collaborative efforts, we will isolate marine compounds, screen them for cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects and determine mechanisms of anticancer effects. To attain our goal, we have four specific aims.
Specific Aims
- To isolate, identify and characterize marine products from the Caribbean Sea (in Dr. Rodriguez’s lab)
- To screen the marine products for cytotoxic or anti-inflammatory effects on chosen normal as well as malignant human cell lines (in Dr. Newman’s lab)
- To test the effects of selected compounds on cell cycle and cell death (in Dr. Kondo’s lab)
- Based on data to be derived from this pilot project, to select the leading two or three candidate molecules for further in vitro and in vivo testing and development (all investigators)
At the conclusion of this project, we expect to have a small number of promising candidate molecules to start testing with thorough in vitro and in vivo experiments. This proposal is unique and attractive because we will use new marine compounds from organisms in the Caribbean Sea. Our preliminary data shows that some of the compounds have substantial anticancer effects. In addition, each investigator for this project has expertise at different steps in the drug development process. Thus, we believe that we will have a smooth, effective and, hopefully, fruitful collaboration.
Finally, this project demonstrates mutual benefits for each institution. The investigators at MD Anderson will have an opportunity to test a variety of marine compounds in search for new anticancer drugs. The scientists at the University of Puerto Rico will have a chance to participate in the new drug development process.