Didemnins

Structure of Didemnins A-C

Didemnins are cyclodepsipeptide compounds isolated from a tunicate (sea-squirt) of the genus Trididemnum (family of Didemnidæ) that were collected in the Caribbean Sea. They were first isolated in 1978 at the University of Illinois. ^[1]

Although more than nine Didemnins (Didemnins A-E, G, X and Y) have been isolated from the extract of Trididemnum solidum, Didemnin B is the one that possesses the most potent biological activities. ^[2] It is a strong antiviral agent against both DNA and RNA viruses like Herpes simplex virus type 1, a strong immunosuppressant that shows some potential in skin graft ^[3] and is also very cytotoxic. It shows strong activity against murine leukemia cells. Large amounts of Didemnin B were chemically synthesized and it was advanced to clinical trials by the National Cancer Institute. It has completed phase II human clinical trials against adenocarcinoma of the kidney ^[4], advanced epithelial ovarian cancer ^[5], and metastatic breast cancer ^[6]. Unfortunately, the compound exhibited high toxicity through a high incidence of anaphylactic reactions in patients and trials were terminated ^[7].

^ Rinehart L., K. et al.. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 1857-1859.
^ Rinehart L., K. et al.. J. Nat. Prod. 1988, 51, 1-21.
^ Montgomery, D.; Zukoshi, C. F. Transplantation 1985, 40, 49.
^ Taylor, S. A.; Goodman, P.; Stuckey, W. J. Stephens, R. L.; Gaynor, E. R. Invest. New Drugs 1992, 10, 55.
^ Cain, J. M.; Liu, P. Y.; Alberta, D.E.; Gallion, J.J.; Laufman, L.; O'Sullivan, J.; Weiss, G.; Bickers, J. N. Invest. New Drugs 1992, 10, 113.
^ Montgomery, D.; Zukoshi, C. F. Transplantation 1985, 40, 49.
^ Nuijen, B.; Bouma, M.; Manada, C.; Jimeno, J.M.; Schellens, J. H. M.; Bult, A.; Beijnen, J. H. Anti-Cancer Drugs 2000, 11, 793.

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