Utilizing differential cytotoxicity screening to identify lead compounds for rare adult and pediatric tumors

Over the last several decades, natural products have become a mainstay in the treatment of cancers. However, it has become increasingly clear that even agents previously classified as general cytotoxins are only effective in subpopulations of patients, suggesting that these agents may be considered 'targeted therapies'. In addition to understanding the molecular markers that predict response to current therapies, there is a critical need to identify new compounds that specifically target rare, lethal malignancies with limited treatment options, including triple negative breast cancers and some classes of pediatric solid tumors. We have developed an effective method of screening extracts and fractions from fungi and plants that is yielding compounds with selective cytotoxic activities for these cancer subtypes.