Members of the UP MSI Marine Natural Products and Pharmacognosy Labs. Counter clockwise from left: Franches Rigel Halos, Michelle Marie Ochoa, Dr. Gisela Concepcion, Irene Pamisan, Eliza Belen. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO/handout/File

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<div><br id="isPasted"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742877701622photo-3.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the UP MSI Marine Natural Products and Pharmacognosy Labs. Counter clockwise from left: Franches Rigel Halos, Michelle Marie Ochoa, Dr. Gisela Concepcion, Irene Pamisan, Eliza Belen. <em>Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO/handout/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — An all-female research group from the University of the Philippines found that a compound derived from Philippine blue sponge could provide a synergistic effect when combined with cancer drug doxorubicin in treating advanced or metastatic breast cancer. </p><p>The cocktail of the compound renieramycin M (RM) and doxorubicin (Dox) &quot;significantly shrank tumors in mice while reducing the toxicity commonly associated with chemotherapy drugs,&quot; the researchers with the UP Marine Science Institute <a href="https://up.edu.ph/up-marine-scientists-propose-sponge-powered-combo-to-combat-breast-cancer/">said in a release</a> last week.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/public-service/2025/3/4/breast-cancer-survivor-helps-other-warriors-get-through-diagnosis-1730">This breast cancer survivor helps other warriors win their fight</a></div><p>Their <a href="https://scienggj.org/2024-special-issue-32/">study was published September 2024 on SciEnggJ</a> or the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering, a peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes science research conducted in the Philippines or handled by Filipinos elsewhere.</p><p>The research team was led by marine scientist Dr. Gisela Concepcion, professor emeritus and academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology who has extensively studied marine-derived natural products and anti-cancer compounds from Philippine marine organisms. </p><p>She was joined by Dr. Lilibeth Salvador-Reyes, Zildjian Acyatan, Shalice Susana-Guevarra, Myra Ruth Picart, and Eliza Belen.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MICE TESTING, RESULTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Concepcion&#x27;s group had suspected that RM, which triggers programmed cell death in cancer cells, could work well with Dox to supercharge its anti-cancer effects. </p><p>They said previous in vitro studies — or experiments conducted outside a living organism — had supported their hypothesis but further testing in organisms was needed.</p><p>She noted that while Dox is a more accessible option for breast cancer treatment, the drug alone &quot;is not very potent&quot; as patients usually require high doses of it that could result in &quot;severe&quot; side effects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/29/ai-can-identify-women-at-risk-of-breast-cancer-years-in-advance-study-1435">AI can identify women at risk of breast cancer years in advance: study</a></div><p>To test their theory, the UP scientists purified RM using a method developed by their collaborators from Chulalongkorn University and Meiji Pharmaceutical University. </p><p>They obtained Dox commercially and used 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cells, the well-established model for advanced-stage human breast cancer.</p><p>The &quot;significant&quot; results of their study demonstrated that RM when combined with Dox &quot;could be a promising treatment option for metastatic breast cancer,&quot; the researchers said.</p><p>&quot;By enhancing efficacy while reducing toxicity, RM-Dox combinations may pave the way for more effective and less harmful therapies,&quot; they said. </p><p>While their findings are promising, the researchers noted that further studies — including clinical trials, the gold standard for medical research — were necessary before RM-based treatments could be used in breast cancer patients.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/10/1/breast-cancer-rate-in-us-rising-sharply-deaths-fall-study-551">Breast cancer rate in US rising sharply, deaths fall: study</a></div><p>There were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and 670,000 deaths were recorded globally during the same year, according to the World Health Organization. </p><p>Philippine Cancer Society President Dr. Corazon Ngelangel noted in a 2023 forum that around 65 percent of breast cancer cases in the Philippines were diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage — one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in Asia. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/12/19/23/heart-attack-diabetes-cancer-among-top-causes-of-death-in-ph-doh">Heart attack, diabetes, cancer among top causes of death in PH: DOH</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/6/personal-chinese-designer-aims-to-restore-courage-in-breast-cancer-survivors-with-stylish-lingerie-1040">Chinese designer aims to restore courage in breast cancer survivors with stylish lingerie</a></div>

<p>An all-female research group from the University of the Philippines found that a compound derived from Philippine blue sponge could provide a synergistic effect when combined with cancer drug doxorubicin in treating advanced or metastatic breast cancer.</p>

An all-female research group from the University of the Philippines found that a compound derived from Philippine blue sponge could provide a synergistic effect when combined with cancer drug doxorubicin in treating advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

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UP scientists aim to improve breast cancer treatment with compound found in sea

UP scientists aim to improve breast cancer treatment with compound found in sea

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 25, 2025 01:11 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 25, 2025 01:18 PM PHT

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