| Bryostatin cancer drugs are currently undergoing | | | | potent activators of Protein Kinase C. |
| Phase L and Phase II cancer trials according to the U. | | | | Currently, over 20 types of bryostatins have been |
| S. National Institute of Health Clinical Trials program. | | | | identified from the bryozoan Bugula neritina host. It |
| Brysostatin-1 is a naturally occurring class of chemical | | | | currently takes about 14 tons of the bryozoan Bugula |
| compound that is toxic to cells (cytotoxic). Bryostatin | | | | neritina to produce 1 ounce of bryostatin. To |
| cancer drugs are produced by the bacterium | | | | synthesize bryostatin, chemical formula C47H68O17 |
| Candidatus endobugula sertula and are found in the | | | | with a molecular weight of 905.033, it takes over 50 |
| marine bryozoan Bugula neritina. The rod-like | | | | steps in the laboratory. |
| bacterium C. endobugula sertula produces the | | | | The effective mechanism of bryostatin is its unique |
| chemical bryostatin during the larval stage of the | | | | ability to activate the cell-signaling enzyme Protein |
| bryozoan's development. The young larvae | | | | Kinase C (PKC) resulting in the inhibition of tumor cell |
| bryozoans are coated with this compound allowing | | | | growth and causing tumor cell death. PKC is an |
| the young larvae to be distasteful and unpalatable to | | | | enzyme that is important for controlling biochemical |
| predators. | | | | reactions in the cell. Bryostatin cancer drugs have |
| Bryozoan Bugula neritina is a tiny aquatic animal less | | | | been associated with initiating immune response, |
| than 1 mm in length that forms colonies similar to | | | | regulating cell growth activity, and in learning and |
| coral and sponges. Bryozoan colonies can be of | | | | memory. Cancerous cells undergo rapid growth and |
| various plant-like types similar to moss, branch or tree | | | | need a controlled growth to keep the cells from |
| style, to gelatinous masses. Bryozoans are water | | | | causing damage to the body. |
| filter-feeders. There are over 5,000 species of | | | | Since it is a promoter of PKC, bryostatin is being |
| bryozoans in the world with only about 50 | | | | looked into assisting in memory enhancement and in |
| freshwater species. The more notable 130 species of | | | | particular to combat Alzheimer's disease. Bryostatin |
| bryozoans tend to be a nuisance animal fouling ship | | | | has shown to increase rates of learning in rats. There |
| hulls, moorings, piers, and docks. Some freshwater | | | | are currently about 40 Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical |
| species form large jelly-like masses that tend to clog | | | | trials ongoing for the use of bryostatin cancer drugs |
| industrial water intakes. The bryozoan's Bugula neritina | | | | for numerous cancers and in Alzheimer's patients. The |
| are found in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of | | | | clinical trials thus far have been for cancers such as: |
| California, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Gulf of | | | | kidney, stomach, breast, prostate, lung, esophageal, |
| Aomori in Japan. | | | | head and neck, ovarian, fallopian tube, cervical, |
| The best source of the cytotoxic chemical bryostatin | | | | multiple myeloma, and leukemia to name a few. |
| I was found in host bryozoans Bugula neritina in 1968. | | | | Currently, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of |
| Bryostatin was found to contain potent anti-leukemic | | | | Yeshiva University has been undergoing Phase II |
| activity. It has shown promise against lung cancer, | | | | metastatic pancreatic cancer studies with Bryostatin-1 |
| prostate cancer, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and | | | | and Paclitaxel. Results for this study and other cancer |
| possibly pancreatic cancer. Bryostatin cancer drugs | | | | studies can be found at the U.S. National Institute of |
| act synergistically with other cancer drugs and are | | | | Health Clinical Trials program. |