Recent advances and limitations in the application of kahalalides for the control of cancer. Author Scott Wyer, Danyelle Townsend, Zhiwei Ye, Antonis Kourtidis, Yeun-Mun Choo, André de Barros, Mohamed Donia, Mark Hamann 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. Keywords Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Neoplasms, Depsipeptides, Mollusca Journal Biomed Pharmacother Volume 148 Pages 112676 Date Published 2022 Apr ISSN Number 1950-6007 DOI 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112676 Alternate Journal Biomed Pharmacother PMCID PMC9004612 PMID 35149387 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML