That’s the question a University of Wollongong team is trying to answer, with initial research indicating that the molecules are far more effective against multi-drug resistant cancers than a common chemotherapy drug.

Lead researcher Dr Kara Perrow said the molecules – called N-alkylisatins – killed 100 per cent of drug resistant cancer cells in the lab in 48 hours. The chemo drug commonly used to treat breast cancer killed just 10 per cent of cells in the same time.

Dr Perrow said the results were exciting given that multi-drug resistance – where cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs – was a major problem with cancer treatment.

‘’My research is focused on the development of targeted cancer therapeutics,’’ she said.

‘’To do this we package molecules – like those discovered in sea snails – in nano-particles that can be injected into the body to seek out and destroy cancer cells yet leave healthy tissues untouched.

‘’The compounds we derived from the marine molluscs shared similar properties to some of the chemotherapeutics currently used, however they retained their potency better.

‘’Where clinically some of these therapeutics failed in that they had no effect, our compounds were 100 per cent effective.’’

Dr Perrow said in the future these drugs could be used after the first round of chemotherapy fails, to treat certain blood cancers and solid tumours, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic and lower gastrointestinal cancers.

‘’It could be five to 10 years however before these drugs are available for use as we would need more funding to conduct clinical trials,’’ she said.

‘’However ultimately they could be used if other chemo drugs fail, to help improve survival rates.’’

The chemicals from the egg masses of the White Rock sea snail were originally isolated and the anti-cancer properties discovered in 2002 by the UOW team, in collaboration with researchers from Southern Cross University. The snails are commonly found on rocky shores around Australia and New Zealand.