A toxin capable of killing fish could be a new weapon in the arsenal of cancer treatment.

From the ScienceDaily article:

It was the first report of freshwater algae causing fish kills, but it wasn't the last instance of such an event. Zimba and his colleagues have confirmed 11 additional occasions in which euglenoid algae have fatally impacted fish ponds. Losses from these events—which have affected striped bass, tilapia and channel catfish—are estimated to exceed $1.1 million.

Moeller, working in NOAA's Center for Human Health Risk in Charleston, S.C., then purified the active compounds and fully characterized the molecular structure of euglenophycin, the algal toxin responsible for the fish kills. The scientists are seeking patent protection on the toxin, and are currently investigating its properties. Laboratory tests have confirmed that euglenophycin is deadly to fish. Catfish exposed to the purified form of the toxin died within 4 hours of exposure.

One potential use of the toxin is in treating cancer patients. Laboratory tests have shown that even low concentrations of euglenophycin led to a significant decrease in cancer cell growth, and can kill cancer cells. Future tests will attempt to verify whether the toxin can slow or prevent tumor formation. Positive results would indicate that this problematic alga could have beneficial medical applications.

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Researchers in Sweden have found links between the genes responsible for red hair and freckles and cancer.

From the article in The Local:

“In our study we have found that genes related to the number of birthmarks are also related to the risk of melanoma,” professor Håkan Olsson, senior doctor at the oncology department of the Lund University Hospital, said in a statement.

According to the international research group, the relationship between melanoma and the genes associated with red hair and freckles has proved to be even stronger than expected.

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