Hypoxia-Selective Antitumor Agents: Norsesterterpene Peroxides from the Marine SpongeDiacarnus levii Preferentially Suppress the Growth of Tumor Cells under Hypoxic Conditions
As part of an ongoing research program to discover natural products that suppress the hypoxia-activated tumor survivalpathways, the lipid extract of the Papua New Guinea marine sponge Diacarnus levii was found to suppress hypoxia-induced HIF-1 activation and hypoxic tumor cell survival. Bioassay-guided isolation of D. levii yielded four newnorsesterterpene peroxides, diacarnoxides A−D. Diacarnoxide B exhibits a significantly enhanced ability to suppressthe growth of tumor cells under hypoxic conditions.