Scientists at the Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after G. B. Elyakov of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have identified special chemical compounds in the extract of a Far Eastern sea star that have shown potential effectiveness in combating human breast cancer cells. According to Mikhail Kusaykin, the institute’s deputy director for research, these compounds may also be useful in fighting inflammatory diseases.
Kusaykin emphasized that this research is in the stage of scientific investigation, but the discovered compounds have already demonstrated high effectiveness in inhibiting the growth and development of breast cancer cells. This result opens up prospects for using sea stars as potential sources of anti-tumor drugs.
Sea stars inhabiting the cold waters of the Far East are known for their ability to produce dense mucus, which serves as protection against predators, mainly other echinoderms.
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