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Fungus-Derived Asperigimycins Show Potent Activity Against Leukemia Cells

Called asperigimycins, they matched the efficacy of FDA-approved therapies in lab tests, setting the stage for animal model trials.

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Overview

  • A University of Pennsylvania-led team isolated asperigimycins from Aspergillus flavus and found two unmodified compounds killed leukemia cells in vitro.
  • The molecules halt cancer spread by blocking microtubule formation, disrupting the cell division machinery of leukemia cells.
  • A lipid-enhanced asperigimycin demonstrated power on par with the FDA-approved drug cytarabine in laboratory studies.
  • Researchers discovered that the SLC46A3 gene is essential for asperigimycins to enter leukemia cells, accounting for their specificity.
  • The collaboration plans to advance testing into animal models with the goal of moving toward human clinical trials if preclinical results remain positive.