A marine sponge found in a small corner of New Zealand could provide a breakthrough in fighting certain types of cancers, New Zealand researchers said Tuesday.

A chemical agent found in the sponge Mycale henscheli, found mostly in the Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, had shown promising tumor-inhibiting properties compared with existing plant and bacterial-based therapies, said Victoria University's scientists.

One preclinical trial on lung cancer cells showed tumor growth inhibition greater than 90 percent with the agent, peloruside A, compared with results of 53 percent and 19 percent for two current anti-cancer drugs, Prof. John Miller said in a statement.

A similar preclinical trial on cells of a different type of lung cancer showed inhibitions of tumor growth ranging between 50 percent and 74 percent, compared to 44 percent and 50 percent with the alternatives.

Tests were also conducted on breast cancer cells, with the results suggesting better toleration of peloruside A than the clinically used drugs.

"Although additional research is required, the preclinical results certainly suggest that peloruside A is highly effective in preventing the growth of lung and breast tumors," says said Miller.

"In some cases, there was even a decrease in tumor volume."

The research also indicated that peloruside A might provide an answer to the growing problem of the acquired resistance of some tumors to current medications.

The results gave strong support for further trials, but advancing clinical studies was challenged due, in part, to a limited supply of the marine sponge.

Efforts were underway to provide enough material, either from aquaculture or large-scale chemical synthesis, to commence human trials.