Phase II clinical trial of PM00104 (Zalypsis®) in urothelial carcinoma patients progressing after first-line platinum-based regimen

Marine-Derived Anticancer Agents Targeting Apoptotic Pathways: Exploring the Depths for Novel Cancer Therapies

Extensive research has been conducted on the isolation and study of bioactive compounds derived from marine sources. Several natural products have demonstrated potential as inducers of apoptosis and are currently under investigation in clinical trials. These marine-derived compounds selectively interact with extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways using a variety of molecular mechanisms, resulting in cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic blebs, apoptotic bodies, and phagocytosis by adjacent parenchymal cells, neoplastic cells, or macrophages. Numerous marine-derived compounds are currently undergoing rigorous examination for their potential application in cancer therapy. This review examines a total of 21 marine-derived compounds, along with their synthetic derivatives, sourced from marine organisms such as sponges, corals, tunicates, mollusks, ascidians, algae, cyanobacteria, fungi, and actinobacteria. These compounds are currently undergoing preclinical and clinical trials to evaluate their potential as apoptosis inducers for the treatment of different types of cancer. This review further examined the compound's properties and mode of action, preclinical investigations, clinical trial studies on single or combination therapy, and the prospective development of marine-derived anticancer therapies.

New advances in genitourinary cancer: evidence gathered in 2014

This review provides updated information published in 2014 regarding advances and major achievements in genitourinary cancer. Sections include the best in prostate cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, and germ cell tumors. In the field of prostate cancer, data related to treatment approach of hormone-sensitive disease, castrate-resistant prostate cancer, mechanisms of resistance, new drugs, and molecular research are presented. In relation to renal cancer, relevant aspects in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, immunotherapy, and molecular research, including angiogenesis and von Hippel-Lindau gene, molecular biology of non-clear cell histologies, and epigenetics of clear renal cell cancer are described. New strategies in the management of muscle-invasive localized bladder cancer and metastatic disease are reported as well as salient findings of biomolecular research in urothelial cancer. Some approaches intended to improve outcomes in poor prognosis patients with metastatic germ cell cancer are also reported. Results of clinical trials in these areas are discussed.

PM00104 (Zalypsis®): a marine derived alkylating agent

PM00104 (Zalypsis®) is a synthethic tetrahydroisoquinolone alkaloid, which is structurally similar to many marine organisms. The compound has been proposed as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of solid human tumors and hematological malignancies. PM00104 is a DNA binding agent, causing inhibition of the cell cycle and transcription, which can lead to double stranded DNA breaks. After rigorous pre-clinical testing, the drug has been evaluated in a number of phase II clinical trials. This manuscript provides a review of current trials and appraises the efficacy of PM00104 as a future cancer treatment.

Natural product and natural product derived drugs in clinical trials

The 25 Natural Product (NP)-derived drugs launched since 2008 and the 100 NP-derived compounds and 33 Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in clinical trials or in registration at the end of 2013 are reviewed.