A National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration scientist discovered an ocean sponge that produces chemicals that can kill cancerous cells in the pancreas and ovaries, NOAA reported March 17.
Latrunculina austini was spotted by researchers studying the seafloor of the Alaska North Pacific Ocean in 2005, NOAA said in a release. The sponge's green color caught the attention of the researchers.
“The unique green color of the Latrunculina austini sponge gives it St. Patrick’s Day spirit all year long,” the NOAA report said. “Instead of a pot of gold, this sponge’s value lies in its molecular chemical composition — it targets and kills pancreatic and ovarian tumor cells.”
Since sponges lack hard parts and thus any physical defense mechanisms, they must rely on chemicals to ward off predators, the release reported. This particular sponge emitted a pungent smell that a researcher saw as a possible indication the sponge could be producing chemicals with potential for drug development.
Ovarian and pancreatic cancers grow slowly, which makes it almost impossible to target them with most cancer treatments. According to the release, this finding is rare and remarkable as less than one in 100 sponge extract acts the same.
Difficulties include collecting the sponge because it lives in the deep ocean, and the cancer-treating compounds only occur in small quantities, according to the release.
