Antitumor and antiproliferative effects of an aqueous extract from the marine diatom Haslea ostrearia (Simonsen) against solid tumors: Lung carcinoma(NSCLC-N6), kidney carcinoma (E39) and melanoma (M96) cell lines

An aqueous extract of the marine diatom Haslea ostrearia (Simonsen) was stu died for its antiproliferative properties against human solid tumors: lung carcinoma (NSCLC-N6), kidney carcinoma (E39) and melanoma (M96). These type s of carcinoma are particularly chemoresistant. The extract has a potent cy tostatic effect in vitro on the thr ee cell lines and blocks the NSCLC-N6 l ine in the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Moreover; the extract strongly inh ibits tumor growth of NSCLC-N6-bearing nude mice. These preliminary results indicate that the aqueous extract of Haslea ostrearia exhibits inhibitory effects both in vitro and in vivo against solid carcinoma lines, suggesting the presence of a new potent antitumor agent in the aqueous algal homogena te.