BEES, BRAZILIAN WASPS, SNAKES, FROGS AND SCORPIONS CAN HOLD THE CURE FOR CANCER....
BRAZILIAN WASP
The properties in the venom that destroy cancer cells
can have the same effect on healthy cells -- much
in the same way, chemotherapy causes cell damage
and painful side effects, while treating cancer.
But Pan's lab has developed a technique to separate out the important proteins and peptides in the venom so they can be used to stop cancer cell growth.
His lab has found a way to synthesize these helpful cells.
can have the same effect on healthy cells -- much
in the same way, chemotherapy causes cell damage
and painful side effects, while treating cancer.
But Pan's lab has developed a technique to separate out the important proteins and peptides in the venom so they can be used to stop cancer cell growth.
His lab has found a way to synthesize these helpful cells.
"Since it's synthetic, there's no ambiguity" in what the substance contains, Pan said.The synthetic material is then delivered to cancer cells using nanotechnology. In "camouflaging the whole toxin as a part of the nanoparticle," Pan said, it bypasses healthy cells and is attracted to only the cancer cells. In other words, it's so tightly packed into the nanoparticle it doesn't leak out and cause other problems.
Attached to the cancer cells, these nanoparticles with the synthesized venom can either slow down or stop cancer cell growth and may ultimately stop cancer from spreading.
stop the cancer stem cells.
"That's what we are interested in --
those are the cells responsible for
metastasizing and also responsible for
having the cancer cells grow back,"
Pan said.
"If we can target better using this technique, we potentially have a better
cancer treatment.
Unlike chemotherapy, this would target in theory, and only affect cancer cells.
If it is successful, this natural agent found in Venom could become the basis
for a whole legion of cancer-fighting drugs.
those are the cells responsible for
metastasizing and also responsible for
having the cancer cells grow back,"
Pan said.
"If we can target better using this technique, we potentially have a better
cancer treatment.
Unlike chemotherapy, this would target in theory, and only affect cancer cells.
If it is successful, this natural agent found in Venom could become the basis
for a whole legion of cancer-fighting drugs.
Pan's research builds on a growing body of scientific research that has
shown toxins in the venom can fight cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
For example, Dr. Samuel Wickline at Washington University in
St. Louis helped develop "nanobees" that are also being tested to see
if they can deliver a synthesized version of the toxin found in bee venom to
cancer cells in prostate cancer.
shown toxins in the venom can fight cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
For example, Dr. Samuel Wickline at Washington University in
St. Louis helped develop "nanobees" that are also being tested to see
if they can deliver a synthesized version of the toxin found in bee venom to
cancer cells in prostate cancer.
Next Pan's lab will try the synthesized venom and nanotechnology combination on
cancer cells in rats and pigs.
If successful, they'll then try the technique on humans.
He predicts that step could happen in the next three to five years.
cancer cells in rats and pigs.
If successful, they'll then try the technique on humans.
He predicts that step could happen in the next three to five years.
