Researchers have found a powerful new way to kill cancer cells—by making them explode from the inside out.
A sugar compound, discovered in deep-sea bacteria, triggers a fiery type of cell death called pyroptosis. This compound not only destroys cancer cells but also signals the immune system to join the fight. It worked in lab experiments and in mice, showing strong anti-tumor effects. The discovery opens the door to an exciting new approach in cancer treatment, using nature’s own molecules to unleash targeted destruction.
Harnessing Pyroptosis to Fight Cancer
Promoting pyroptosis—an inflammatory form of programmed cell death—has become a promising treatment strategy for cancer. In research published in The FASEB Journal, investigators purified a long-chain sugar molecule, or exopolysaccharide, from deep-sea bacteria and demonstrated that it triggers pyroptosis to inhibit tumor growth.
The compound, called EPS3.9, consists of mannose and glucose and is produced by the Spongiibacter nanhainus CSC3.9 bacterial strain and other members of the genus Spongiibacter. Mechanistic analyses showed that EPS3.9 can directly target 5 membrane phospholipid molecules and exert tumor toxicity by stimulating pyroptosis in human leukemia cells. EPS3.9 also had significant anti-tumor effects in the mice with liver cancer and activated anti-tumor immune responses.
Marine Microbes and the Future of Cancer Treatment
“Our work not only provides a theoretical basis for developing more carbohydrate-based drugs but also highlights the importance of exploring marine microbial resources,” said corresponding author Chaomin Sun, PhD, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Reference: “A Novel Exopolysaccharide, Highly Prevalent in Marine Spongiibacter, Triggers Pyroptosis to Exhibit Potent Anticancer Effects” by Ge Liu, Yeqi Shan and Chaomin Sun, 23 July 2025, The FASEB Journal.
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202500412R
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11 Comments
Like 70 other discoveries that “kill cancer” this will be quietly forgotten and never heard from again. Anyone who has cancer will get the standard chemo and radiation until they die from the cancer, or die from the hellish treatment or go into remission. None of these therapies will ever be offered and no doctor anywhere will know anything about them or how to use them.
I have to agree with you. Just think of all the cancer hospitals and oncologists who wouldn’t have a job if chemo and radiation were longer needed. I know there’s a cure and I”m sure they’ve already found it; however, we’ll never know.😡
Yes. Too true to be funny.
You make a sound point, Harry.
How do they even discover this 😅
Chinese researchers are making great strides as lesser theft in the gravy train. Too many conflicts of interest and lack of interest in scientific research in the West due to politics. It’s not that difficult once you understand the basics and come up with an hypothesis.
Astounding!
Wealth of treasures to be found in the depths yet to be exploited.
The rich will have their team of doctors research these discoveries to tailor a successful treatment.
It’s great to find new cures for cancer, but in the long run, it’d be better to find more ways to prevent it. Like eliminating cancer causing preservatives, sugar, chemicals, and hidden toxins, etc.
As long as big pharma can keep milking the cancer gravy train there will never be a cure for cancer. I guess what I really mean is that as long as capitalism exists there will never be a cure.
This is a BS news.