Technology • Jun 21, 2025

Breakthrough in cancer treatment found in ocean depths

Scientists have found a rare sugar in sea cucumbers that can block an enzyme linked to cancer growth.
This sugar, called fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, could lead to safer cancer treatments with fewer side effects.

TL;DR

The sugar's mechanism and advantages

The sea cucumber sugar stops Sulf-2, an enzyme that helps cancer cells spread by changing cell surfaces.
Unlike some current drugs, it doesn't mess with blood clotting—so there's less risk of serious bleeding.

Researchers are now working on making this sugar in the lab

Because wild sea cucumbers are hard to find, researchers are now working on making this sugar in the lab.
If successful, it could open the door to new, more sustainable ways to fight cancer using marine compounds.