Coral that may save skin

Mon May 18th, 2009

A coral found in the Red Sea may hold the key to a powerful new treatment for skin cancer, researchers have reported.

A drug that is being tested is called sarcophine-diol and is made from sarcophine, isolated from soft coral found in the Red Sea.

New research suggests it might have a wide range of effects against some kinds of skin cancer.

The findings do not apply to the most dangerous skin cancer, melanoma.

Reporting in the journal Translational Oncology, researchers say it may prevent the growth of cancer - but also trigger the death of cancer cells if used in high concentrations.

Most importantly, the laboratory studies suggest the drug may trigger the death of cancer cells without harming healthy cells - holding out hope that it might have limited side-effects.

Researcher Professor Chandradhar Dwivedi, of South Dakota State University, USA, said: "Sarcophine-diol has excellent potential to be a potent chemotherapeutic agent that can be further investigated for use against non-melanoma skin cancer development."

Translational Oncology March 2009

Tags: General Health | North America | Dermatology | Cancer

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