ANTINEOPLASTIC ACTIVITY OF CULTURED BLUE‐GREEN ALGAE (CYANOPHYTA)1

ABSTRACT A large‐scale screening program was initiated to evaluate laboratory‐cultured blue‐green algae (cyanobacteria) as a source of novel antineoplastic agents. Approximately 1000 cyanophyte strains from diverse habitats were cultured to provide extracts for testing. The screening program identified the families Scytonemataceae and Stigonemataceae as prolific producers of novel cytotoxic compounds. Rates of rediscovery of known compounds were relatively low.