Scientists in Brazil discovered a spider on São Paulo’s coast with venom that fights cancer, offering a fresh approach to cancer treatment.
Twenty years ago, the Albert Einstein Israelita Hospital and Butantan Institute teams started this work.
They studied the Vitalius wacketi spider’s venom. Their goal was to find and refine molecules that could attack tumors.
These Brazilian teams have even secured patents for their methods. The venom showed promise against leukemia early on.
This is important because leukemia targets certain blood cells. The venom offers a better option than chemotherapy.
Thomas Rocha, a biochemist, shared insights with Xinhua. He and his team found a special toxin in the venom. This toxin, a big, unstable polyamine, sparked their interest.
Later, a university student wanted to study the venom’s power to kill cancer cells. Rocha’s team tested it. They found one toxin in the Vitalius wacketi venom that stood out.
Rocha succeeded in making a synthetic version of this toxin. This means they don’t have to get it from spiders anymore.
Making this molecule in a lab is cheaper and simpler. Rocha explains that it also stays stable in the body and is easy to remove through the kidneys.
This research is still in the early stages. Scientists need to do more tests on cells and animals. They want to be sure it’s safe and works well before trying it on people.
If these steps go well, the next phase is clinical trials. This means testing it on humans to see if it can really fight cancer. Success here could lead to official approval for use in medicine.
This discovery is vital. It could change how we treat cancer, offering a new, effective option.