Scientists in Brazil have found that scorpion venom might help fight breast cancer. This discovery was shared at a science event called FAPESP Week France. The research was done at the University of Sao Paulo.
The scientists studied the venom of the Brotheas amazonicus scorpion, which lives in the Amazon region. They found a molecule in the venom called BamazScplp1. In lab tests, this molecule showed signs of killing cancer cells. It works in a way that is similar to a drug called paclitaxel, which is already used in chemotherapy to treat breast cancer.
Eliane Candiani Arantes, a professor at the university and the project’s coordinator, said, "Through bioprospecting, we were able to identify a molecule in the species of this Amazonian scorpion that is similar to that found in the venoms of other scorpions and that acts against breast cancer cells."
The researchers did not take venom directly from the scorpions. Instead, they used a safe method called heterologous expression. In this process, scientists put the gene that makes the desired molecule into another organism, like yeast or bacteria. These organisms then make the molecule in the lab.
"We also intend to obtain these molecules through heterologous expression," said Ms Arantes.
She added, "Our idea now is to obtain this serine protease through heterologous expression [in a fragment or complete gene from a host organism that doesn't have it naturally] in Pichia pastoris."
How does this help fight cancer?
When the molecule BamazScplp1 was tested on breast cancer cells in the lab, the results were very promising. The peptide caused the cancer cells to die, mainly through a process called necrosis. "The peptide induces cell death mainly through necrosis, an action similar to that of molecules identified in other scorpion species," the study highlighted.
This gives hope that new treatments for breast cancer might be developed from scorpion venom in the future.
Why is this important?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It is also the second most common cancer overall in the world. A recent study said that about 1 in 20 women around the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
In 2022 alone, there were 2.3 million new breast cancer cases and 670,000 deaths. Experts believe that by 2050, the numbers may rise to 3.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths each year. Most of these cases happen in people over the age of 50.