A study by the University of Mississippi and Georgetown University has found that sugar compounds from ocean cucumbers may help slow cancer progression by blocking the enzyme Sulf-2, which promotes cancer growth. Ocean cucumbers, important for marine ecosystems as bottom feeders, possess unique biochemicals not typically found in land animals.
Research focused on a specific molecule called fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from the sea cucumber species Holothuria floridana, which successfully inhibited Sulf-2 activity. This finding suggests a potential for safer cancer therapies, as many current treatments that inhibit Sulf-2 can cause dangerous side effects like uncontrolled bleeding.
Additionally, extracting compounds from marine sources could be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly compared to land-based alternatives, although large-scale harvesting poses sustainability challenges. The collaborative study emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches in cancer research, potentially paving the way for new, safe treatments derived from marine life.
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