Researchers Investigate Melanoma Treatment Using Marine Toxins

Scientists from a Florida university believe that toxins derived from small marine organisms in Antarctica could offer a new approach to treating melanoma, a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer.

A team from the University of South Florida (USF) has just returned from a six-week expedition to one of the most isolated areas on the planet, where they gathered samples of ascidians, commonly known as sea squirts, which thrive in the frigid waters.

Brian Baker, a chemistry professor at USF, mentioned that the toxins produced by these ascidians as a defense mechanism against predators could be “repurposed.” Initial research indicates that these toxins were able to kill melanoma cells in mice.

“The encouraging part is that it didn’t harm the mice,” he noted. “It effectively targeted their cancer, which suggests it has the potential to function like a drug. We need to collect more material for larger studies with mice, and eventually, other animal models. If everything checks out on the safety front, we can look toward initiating human trials.”

Baker pointed out that establishing a safe and effective melanoma treatment for human use involves a lengthy process. Many rounds of stringent trials would need to be conducted even after a drug is developed.

He remarked that the insights gained from their expedition—where divers went as deep as 130 feet for about half an hour—could help speed up progress in their research.

Ben Meister, a USF professor and diving safety officer for the mission sponsored by the National Science Foundation, highlighted that sea temperatures posed just one of many challenges the team faced.

“In Antarctica, you encounter ice, leopard seals, fluctuating seas, and occasionally poor visibility,” he explained. “Every dive has to be meticulously planned to ensure we can accomplish our objectives while keeping everyone safe.”

The next steps in developing these toxins for melanoma treatment will take place in laboratories. Some collaborations are already in progress with the Desert Research Institute and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Despite their long-held belief that these toxins could be beneficial against melanoma, Baker noted that this year’s expedition shed new light on the relationship between the melanoma-killing bacteria and the microorganisms they inhabit.

“The knowledge gained from these field studies will aid in advancing our work as we begin animal and human models. We’ll have a clearer understanding of how to effectively use it as a treatment,” he added.

Following their demanding trip, the researchers returned “exhausted” but thrilled about the upcoming lab phase, which will involve efforts to synthetically replicate the toxin.

“We need several hundred milligrams to grams of this metabolite, but from the size of a basketball collection of ascidians, we might only yield a fraction,” he stated. “It’s clear we can’t collect thousands of basketball-sized amounts from Antarctica as that would upset the ecosystem, so our focus must shift to lab production.”

Baker, who began his career in marine biology and chemistry in 1990, has engaged in various projects assessing underwater organisms for their potential health benefits.

“Over half of FDA-approved medications have natural origins,” he shared. “I could recount numerous other metabolites we’ve discovered in sponges, corals, and tunicates—not just from Antarctica.”

He regards the melanoma findings as “a significant milestone” in his career.

“While eradicating cancer cells in a petri dish is one thing, progressing beyond that is far more challenging. Overcoming some of these significant hurdles is genuinely exciting for me,” Baker concluded. “Now, we just have to tackle the next challenge.”