Sophorolipids and their derivatives are lethal against human pancreatic cancer cells.

Introduction: We have previously demonstrated that sophorolipids, a class of easily chemoenzymatically modifiable glycolipids, possess anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Since glycolipids have been shown to have anticancer activity, we investigated the effects of sophorolipids and their derivatives against pancreatic cancer.

Materials And Methods: Human pancreatic carcinoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations of sophorolipid natural mixture or select derivatives (ethyl ester, methyl ester, ethyl ester monoacetate, ethyl ester diacetate, acidic sophorolipid [AS], lactonic sophorolipid diacetate [LSD]) for 24 h and assessed for cell necrosis (cytotoxicity-lactate dehydrogenase release).