Scientists study how snake venom could be used against breast cancer

Brazilian scientists are studying how the components present in poisons can be used to treat different diseases. At the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, researchers are evaluating the potential of substances present in the venom of snakes such as jararaca and rattlesnake to combat breast cancer.

Specialists from the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology at Butantan discovered that the pit viper venom is able to modulate proteins related to tumor cell metabolism, immune response and inflammation. The research group led by Professor Leo Kei Iwai investigates how the venom can be useful against cells of a specific type of breast cancer, called triple negative.

Based on the findings, the scientists now seek to identify which components present in the venom are responsible for the modulation of proteins. The expectation is that, in the future, the team can work on the development of a complementary therapy to the treatment of the disease.

For this, researchers need to overcome the challenge of identifying and separating, among the components of the venom, those with beneficial effects from those that are toxic to the human body.

“Cancer has an increase in several proteins. With the introduction of the venom into triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, some proteins decreased and others that were elevated ended up increasing even more. If you increase it too much, you can induce an imbalance in the homeostasis of the cancer cell, causing it to die. This is a strategy that we will work on”, says Iwai, in a statement.

rattlesnake venom protein

A rattlesnake venom protein called crotoxin also has antitumor activity.

The studies led by the director of the Scientific Development Center at Butantan, Sandra Coccuzzo, revealed in laboratory tests that the substance is capable of inhibiting the proliferation and migration of breast cancer tumor cells. The action has a punctual and relevant characteristic of not affecting normal cells, braking an important mechanism during the development of embryonic cells, which helps the cell to migrate and form other tissues.

“In the malignant cell, when this process is triggered, it helps the cancer to spread. It is a fundamental process for metastasis to occur. If you stop this mechanism, you prevent tumor development”, explains Sandra.

The tests were done with malignant and normal human cells in breast tissue that mimics real human tissue. As the process occurs in any cancer cell, the same strategy would apply for different types of cancer, according to experts. In the work, the experts observed the same results in lung tumor cells, for example.

Based on the knowledge of the potential of crotoxin, the group now seeks to identify which would be the smallest parts of the protein with antitumor capacity. “This would be the way to synthesize new molecules and develop a drug in the future”, says the specialist.

disease incidence

Breast cancer is the type that most affects women worldwide, both in developing and developed countries. Each year, around 66,000 new cases are recorded in Brazil, according to estimates by the National Cancer Institute (Inca). The disease occupies the first position in cancer mortality among women in Brazil.

The Ministry of Health recommends performing mammography as a screening method for breast cancer, that is, a routine examination for women without signs and symptoms in the age group of 50 to 69 years, every two years. One in three cancer cases can be cured if caught early enough.

The disease is characterized in different stages: 0 to IV, the last being the most severe. At this stage, cancer can be found in other parts of the body and is called metastatic cancer.

According to Inca, the main symptoms of breast cancer are:

• Lump (lump), fixed and usually painless
• Red, tight, or orange-peel-like breast skin
• Changes in the nipple (nipple)
• Small lumps in the armpits or neck
• Spontaneous discharge of abnormal fluid from the nipples