(±)-Xestospongin D (2) has been isolated from the Singapore marine sponge Niphates sp. The natural product was found to be racemic in contrast to earlier isolations of (+) xestospongin D from Xestospongia and Haliclona species. The (±)-xestospongin D was found to inhibit growth of certain human cancer cell lines comprising the NCI panel (e.g., leukemia subpanel, mean GI50 3.62 ± 2.02 x 10-6 M; breast subpanel, mean GI50 4.53 ± 1.98 x 10-6 M) as well as the murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia (ED50 1.7 µg/mL) and the bacterium Micrococcus luteus.