Latest news with #ElianeCandianiArantes
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Amazonian Scorpion Venom Can Kill Breast Cancer Cells, Scientists Say
Preliminary results presented at the FAPESP Week France health conference suggest the venom from an Amazon rainforest scorpion (Brotheas amazonicus) might be able to help treat breast cancer. An aging global population, as well as greater exposure to pollutants and stressed-out ecosystems, means we are seeing increasing rates of cancer, dementia, and other diseases. So, in the endless search for more treatment options, some researchers are looking in unlikely places – like a scorpion's tail. To speed things up, a group of researchers from Brazil have been inserting potential genes of interest into a 'factory' organism's DNA to create the gene's product. They can then test the resulting proteins, like those in scorpion venom, for various medical uses. "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," explains University of São Paulo pharmacologist Eliane Candiani Arantes. Related: Like chemotherapy drugs, the molecule, BamazScplp1, triggers necrosis – the process of cell death – in the breast cancer cells, causing the cells to rupture. It is still very early in investigating this treatment, but using this heterologous expression 'factory' method of creating molecules from genes, the researchers reported that they have also found a molecule that promotes the growth of blood vessels made from snake venom and a blood component from cattle. "This growth factor favors the formation of new vessels… with the possibility of expanding the industrial scale, since it can be obtained through heterologous expression," says Arantes. Heterologous expression can help researchers understand bioactive molecules, explore their functions, and experiment with different mutations by producing large quantities of them inside another organism. In this case, Arantes and colleagues used a species of yeast (Komagataella pastoris) as factories for their proteins of interest. Using techniques like these could help us track down more of nature's hidden treatments, as long as we don't destroy them first. An Early Warning Signal of a 'Silent Killer' Cancer May Hide in Your Poop Your Blood Type Affects Your Risk of an Early Stroke, Study Finds Has Dementia Risk Declined Over Generations? Here's The Science.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Scorpion venom offers new hope for breast cancer patients: Study
Source: NFCR In a breakthrough, Brazilian scientists have found a molecule in an Amazonian scorpion venom with great potential to cure the widely spreading cancer. The research conducted by the team at the University of São Paulo and presented during FAPESP Week France details how the natural compound can lead to alternative cancer treatments. As per the research, the venom of the scorpion seems to attack and kill cancer cells with little destruction to normal tissue. This research can pave the way to hopeful prospects for the creation of new treatments from nature, promising better and less invasive therapies for breast cancer in the future. Scorpion venom molecule found to kill breast cancer cells in early tests The focus of the study is a molecule named BamazScplp1, extracted from the venom of the Brotheas amazonicus scorpion. Early laboratory tests revealed that this peptide can kill breast cancer cells like paclitaxel, one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs. 'Through bioprospecting, we were able to identify a molecule in this species of Amazonian scorpion that acts against breast cancer cells,' said Professor Eliane Candiani Arantes, coordinator of the project. The molecule belongs to the family of serine proteases, enzymes known for their ability to break down proteins and potentially disrupt the life cycle of cancer cells. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TVS Serene Springs | Senior Citizen Homes In OMR, Chennai. TVS Emerald Learn More Undo Tests conducted on breast cancer cells showed that BamazScplp1 induces cell death primarily through necrosis, a process in which cells break apart uncontrollably. While necrosis is often considered a damaging form of cell death in healthy tissues, in cancer therapy, it can be highly effective when used to target tumors. The response was comparable to that triggered by paclitaxel, suggesting that BamazScplp1 may offer similar therapeutic effects. 'The peptide induces cell death mainly through necrosis, an action similar to that of molecules identified in other scorpion species,' the study reported. Scientists use yeast to mass produce cancer fighting molecule Instead of collecting venom directly from scorpions, the researchers turned to a bioengineering method called heterologous expression. This involves inserting the gene that codes for the target protein into a host organism commonly yeast or bacteria which then produces the protein in large amounts. 'We intend to obtain these molecules through heterologous expression,' Professor Arantes explained. The team plans to use Pichia pastoris, a yeast strain often employed in biotechnology, to mass-produce the peptide for further research and testing. This method eliminates the need for scorpion venom extraction, making it both ethical and scalable two critical factors for future drug development. Global burden of breast cancer Breast cancer is the leading diagnosed cancer in women and the second most prevalent cancer globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A 2024 Nature Medicine study estimated that an estimated 1 in 20 women worldwide will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2022 alone, there were an estimated 2.3 million new breast cancer diagnoses worldwide, and about 670,000 deaths. Most cases (71%) and fatalities (79%) were in people over the age of 50. If current trends persist, breast cancer diagnoses worldwide are likely to increase to 3.2 million a year by 2050, with more than 1 million deaths a year. Scorpion molecule could be a game-changer in breast cancer treatment Though these results are preliminary, they underscore the promise of natural products in the drug development process. Further lab work, animal testing, and eventually human clinical trials will be needed to establish if BamazScplp1 can safely and effectively be utilized in humans. If it is proven effective, the molecule has the potential to lead to a new generation of cancer treatments based on nature, bringing hope to millions of breast cancer sufferers worldwide. Also Read | Meet Jahnavi Dangeti, NASA's first Indian IASP graduate from Andhra Pradesh set for 2029 space mission
NDTV
24-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Scorpion Venom Could Be Used To Treat Breast Cancer
In a groundbreaking scientific development, Brazilian scientists have claimed that scorpion venom could help treat breast cancer. As per the study findings presented at FAPESP Week France, researchers at the University of Sao Paulo found a molecule in the scorpion venom that acts similarly to a commonly used chemotherapy drug, employed to kill the cancer cells. Preliminary results of the study showed that the molecule called BamazScplp1, found in the venom of the Brotheas amazonicus scorpion, showed cancer-fighting properties when tested in the lab. "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," said Eliane Candiani Arantes, a professor at the university and the project's coordinator. Instead of milking the scorpions for venom, the researchers used a process called heterologous expression to produce the required toxin content for the study. In this process, the gene that produces a particular protein is inserted into another organism (often yeast or bacteria) and later produced in large quantities inside the lab. "We also intend to obtain these molecules through heterologous expression," said Ms Arantes, referring to BamazScplp1 and other promising compounds. "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," she added. Test results of the peptide on breast cancer cells revealed a response comparable to that of paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat the disease. "The peptide induces cell death mainly through necrosis, an action similar to that of molecules identified in other scorpion species," the study highlighted. Breast cancer According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women and the second most common cancer type overall, globally. A study published in Nature Medicine earlier this year revealed that on average, 1 in 20 women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. If current rates continue, by 2050, there will be 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 million breast cancer-related deaths per year. An estimated 2.3 million new breast cancer cases and 670,000 breast cancer-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2022. Most breast cancer cases and deaths occur in individuals aged 50 years and older, who account for 71 per cent of new cases and 79 per cent of deaths.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Scorpion Venom Could Help Treat Breast Cancer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A venomous creature from the Amazon rainforest may hold the key to fighting one of the deadliest cancers affecting women today. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancers aside, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S.—accounting for about 30% of all new female cancer cases annually, with an estimated 42,170 women expected to die from it in 2025. Brazilian scientists have discovered that the venom of the Brotheas amazonicus scorpion contains a molecule that kills breast cancer cells in a way similar to chemotherapy, according to a groundbreaking study by researchers in Brazil. "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," said Eliane Candiani Arantes, a professor at the University of São Paulo and the project's coordinator. A stock image of a scorpion in the laboratory. A stock image of a scorpion in the laboratory. Sinhyu/iStock/Getty Images Plus The molecule in question, called BamazScplp1, is a type of peptide—a short chain of amino acids—that showed cancer-fighting properties when tested in the lab. It worka similarly to paclitaxel, a standard chemotherapy drug, by inducing necrosis, or uncontrolled cell death, in breast cancer cells. Unlike some other cell-killing processes that are regulated by the body, necrosis causes the cancer cells to burst and die—a tactic that has also been observed in other venom-based compounds. What Is Bioprospecting? Bioprospecting is the process of searching for useful compounds in nature, especially from plants, animals, and microorganisms. In this case, the team explored scorpion venom for potential bioactive molecules—substances that affect living tissues in a beneficial way, such as fighting infections or cancer. Turning Venom into Medicine—Without the Scorpions The researchers aren't milking scorpions for their venom at scale. Instead, they are using a process called heterologous expression, which means inserting the gene that produces a particular protein into another organism—often yeast or bacteria—so it can be produced in large quantities in the lab. "We also intend to obtain these molecules through heterologous expression," Arantes said, referring to BamazScplp1 and other promising compounds. One such host organism is Pichia pastoris, a species of yeast originally isolated in France in 1950. It's commonly used in biotechnology to manufacture proteins that would otherwise be difficult to source naturally. "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," she added. The "Super Glue" Made from Snake Venom This isn't the first time researchers in Brazil have turned to venom for medical innovation. At the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), scientists developed a patented product called fibrin sealant—a kind of biological glue made by combining serinoproteinase (an enzyme found in snake venom) with cryoprecipitate, a component derived from the blood of buffalo, cattle, or sheep and is rich in fibrinogen, a protein essential for blood clotting. When mixed, the two form a fibrin network, mimicking the body's natural healing process. This sealant has been studied for uses like nerve repair, bone injury treatment and even helping restore movement after spinal cord injuries. It is currently in phase three clinical trials, the last stage before a drug can be considered for approval and widespread use. "This growth factor favors the formation of new vessels. If we combine it with colinein-1, we can create an improved fibrin sealant compared to the one being developed at CEVAP, with the possibility of expanding the industrial scale, since it can be obtained through heterologous expression," Arantes said. A Bigger Push Toward Biopharmaceutical Innovation All of this work is being carried out as part of the Center for Translational Science and Development of Biopharmaceuticals (CTS), a program aimed at turning biological discoveries into practical medical treatments. The CTS is part of a broader push by FAPESP, a public foundation in Brazil that funds scientific research. Their strategy isn't limited to scorpion venom. The team has also worked with rattlesnake proteins, including a compound called cholinein-1, and is developing another bioactive substance known as CdtVEGF, which promotes the growth of blood vessels—a potentially valuable tool in tissue regeneration. What Comes Next? The discovery of BamazScplp1 is still in the early stages. The results were shared at FAPESP Week France, a scientific conference held from June 10 to 12 in Toulouse, southern France. But the findings highlight the growing interest in nature-based compounds and how they might work alongside or even replace traditional treatments like chemotherapy. If further tests confirm its effectiveness and safety, the molecule from the scorpion could someday be developed into a new kind of anti-cancer drug, offering patients more options and possibly fewer side effects. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about breast cancer? Let us know via health@
