Pharmaceutical development of anticancer agents derived from marine sources

The marine ecosystem is more and more acknowledged as a source of potential anticancer agents. After the identification of a potential substance sever al hurdles have to be overcome before a marine candidate can enter the clin ic, Amongst these are the establishment of a method which ensures sufficien t supply and, which is the focus of this review, the development of a clini cally useful pharmaceutical formulation, General issues with respect to the pharmaceutical development of marine anticancer agents will be discussed, which will be illustrated by highlighting aspects of the pharmaceutical dev elopment and clinical use of some representative compounds. [(C) 2000 Lippi ncott Williams & Wilkins.].