A new drug had been developed by the B. C. researcher to shrink prostate cancer tumors,. This drug was developed from molecules extracted from marine sponge which was collected in New Guniea.

The journal Cancer Cell published their study which showed the experimental drug EPI-001 –not only shrunk tumors but did so without any toxic effects on the lab mice which had been afflicted with cancer. Marianne Sadar a scientist with BC cancer agency said that the moment she saw the way the tumors were actually shrinking she showed the picture to every one around him.

Sadar has spent many years looking for new drugs to help people who suffer relapses when the cancer becomes resistant to what is termed androgen ablation therapy. This can be surgical or drug treatment to stop production of male hormone that fuels the tumor growth. But such men are susceptible to cancer relapse.

Sadar said that there have been number of chemotherapy drug developed from sponges and Us national cancer institute made a survey which showd that natural products or synthetic version of natural products can produce about 64%of anti cancer compound which are currently in pre-clinical studies or clinical trials. Sponges are ideal for providing raw materials for the new drug.

Scientists have found out that marine sponge has a compound which is similar to BADGE which proved that sponges were harvested in polluted water.

Bisphenol which can be extracted from marine sponge can be an endocrine system disrupter can harm the children

Sadar said that they had only extracted the sponge’s desired compound – EP1-001-into a purified form and then they have synthesized it. The drug did not contain BPA and it showed no toxic effect on the mice .