Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men
and women in the United States. About 50% of diagnosed patients are estimated to die
from colon cancer, thus highlighting the need for improved chemotherapeutic agents.
The testing of extracts from the extensive natural products repository of the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) in the NCI 60-cell line screen identified several extracts
with selective activity against the colon cancer cell line panel. Bioassay-guided
fractionation of a selectively cytotoxic extract from the marine sponge Corticium niger led to the isolation of new steroidal alkaloids along with three known compounds.
The structures of these compounds were elucidated by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR
spectroscopic data and accurate mass measurements (HR-EIMS).
