Recent advances and limitations in the application of kahalalides for the control of cancer.

Publication Year
2022

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Since the discovery of the kahalalide family of marine depsipeptides in 1993, considerable work has been done to develop these compounds as new and biologically distinct anti-cancer agents. Clinical trials and laboratory research have yielded a wealth of data that indicates tolerance of kahalalides in healthy cells and selective activity against diseased cells. Currently, two molecules have attracted the greates level of attention, kahalalide F (KF) and isokahalalide F (isoKF, Irvalec, PM 02734, elisidepsin). Both compounds were originally isolated from the sarcoglossan mollusk Elysia rufescens but due to distinct structural characteristics it has been hypothesized and recently shown that the ultimate origin of the molecules is microbial. The search for their true source has been a subject of considerable research in the anticipation of finding new analogs and a culturable expression system that can produce sufficient material through fermentation to be industrially relevant.

Journal
Biomed Pharmacother
Volume
148
Pages
112676
Date Published
2022 Apr
ISSN Number
1950-6007
Alternate Journal
Biomed Pharmacother
PMCID
PMC9004612
PMID
35149387