Scientists have discovered a sugar compound from deep-sea bacteria that can destroy cancer cells in a dramatic way. The natural substance, produced by microbes living in the ocean, triggers pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that helps the body fight infections and disease.
The compound, called EPS3.9, is made up of mannose and glucose and was found to stop tumors from growing and activate the immune system to fight back in lab tests and mice with liver cancer. Researchers purified the sugar molecule from deep-sea bacteria and demonstrated its ability to trigger pyroptosis, inhibiting tumor growth.
Pyroptosis is a fiery form of cell death that releases inflammatory signals, alerting the immune system to attack the tumor. Triggering pyroptosis in tumor cells can directly destroy them while also rallying the immune system to join the fight. This finding could pave the way for new cancer treatments based on sugars from marine organisms.
The discovery was published in The FASEB Journal and highlights the importance of exploring marine microbial resources. According to Dr. Chaomin Sun, corresponding author of the study, “Our work not only provides a theoretical basis for developing more carbohydrate-based drugs but also highlights the significance of discovering new compounds from marine organisms.”
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Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250723045659.htm