Could Octopuses Unlock New Ways to Treat Cancer?

Scientific discoveries often come from the most unexpected sources, and the ocean's depths are no exception. Historically, many important medical advances have originated from marine organisms—penicillin was discovered by accident, Velcro was inspired by plant burrs, and numerous cancer therapies have been developed from sea sponges. Recent research has turned attention to two species of octopus, revealing promising compounds that could revolutionize cancer treatment.

The focus is on the Australian southern sand octopus and the common octopus, the same species famously portrayed in the documentary "My Octopus Teacher." Compounds derived from their ink and venom have shown potential in targeting cancer cells without damaging normal tissue—a significant advancement over conventional therapies that often come with severe side effects.

Recent laboratory studies have identified specific compounds such as octopeptide-1 from sand octopus venom and ozopromide from common octopus ink. These substances have demonstrated the ability to slow down the proliferation of cancer cells from various types, including breast, cervix, prostate, and lung cancers. Notably, the compounds tend to target cancerous cells selectively, sparing healthy nearby cells.

Dr. Maria Ikonomopoulou, head of the Translational Venomics Group at IMDEA-Food Institute in Madrid, led research that uncovered the anti-melanoma properties of octopus venom. She highlights the potential of octopeptide-1 as a milder, more targeted approach to treating melanoma, which could reduce relapse rates. While still in early stages and tested primarily in animal models, the results are promising, suggesting a future where octopus-derived compounds might be integrated into combination therapies to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity.

The unique compounds in octopus ink and venom essentially limit their growth of cancer cells while having minimal effects on healthy cells—a breakthrough in the pursuit of safer cancer treatments. However, moving from lab research to human trials is a slow process due to the extensive safety and efficacy evaluations required. Both compounds have been synthetically produced in laboratories to bypass the need for harvesting from real octopuses, making further testing safer and more sustainable.

As oceanic exploration uncovers more bioactive substances, these marine-inspired solutions could offer hope for more effective and less harmful cancer therapies in the future. The potential for similar compounds to work in humans is still under investigation, but the initial findings underscore the importance of our oceans as a source of groundbreaking medical advances.