Bee venom found to kill aggressive breast cancer cells

Using 312 venom and bumblebee venoms in Perth, Western Australia, Ireland, and England, Dr. Ciara Duffy of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medicine and the University of Western Australia tested the effects of venom on clinical subtypes of breast cancer. .. Includes triple-negative breast cancer with limited treatment options.

Results published in prestigious international journals npj Precision Oncology Bee venom revealed rapid destruction of triple-negative breasts cancer And HER2 enhancement Breast cancer cells..

Dr. Duffy said the goal of the study was to investigate the anticancer properties of honeybee venom and its constituent melittin against various types of breast cancer cells.

“Previously, no one compared the effects of bee venom or melittin on all of the various subtypes of breast cancer and normal cells.

“We tested honey bee venom from normal breast cells and cells of the clinical subtype of breast cancer: hormone receptor positive, HER2 enriched, triple negative breast cancer.

“We tested a very small, positively charged peptide in a honey bee venom called melittin that could be synthetically replicated, and found that the synthetic product reflected most of the anti-cancer effects of honey bee venom. I found it,” said Dr. Duffy.

“We found that both bee venom and melittin significantly, selectively, and rapidly reduce the survival of triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-rich breast cancer cells.”

“The venom was very powerful,” said Dr. Duffy.

Certain concentrations of honey bee venom can induce 100% cancer cell death with minimal effect on normal cells.

“We found that melittin can completely destroy cancer cell membranes within 60 minutes.”

Melittin, found in the venom of honeybees, had another significant effect. Within 20 minutes, melittin was able to significantly reduce the cancer cell chemical messages essential for cancer cell growth and division.

“We investigated how honey bee venom and melittin affect cancer signaling pathways, which are chemical messages essential for cancer cell growth and reproduction, and were immediately blocked. I understand.

“Melittin regulates breast cancer cell signaling by suppressing activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, a receptor that is commonly overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancers, and is overexpressed in HER2-rich breasts. It suppresses the activation of HER2, which is being carried out. Cancer.”

“This is an incredibly exciting observation that melittin, the main component of bee venom, can specifically suppress the growth of deadly breast cancer cells,” said Peter Klinken, chief scientist at Western Australia. Triple negative breast cancer..

“Importantly, this study demonstrates how melittin interferes with signaling pathways in breast cancer cells to reduce cell replication, another great example of how natural compounds can be used to treat human disease. Will be provided,” he said.

Dr. Duffy also asked if melittin could combine with existing chemotherapeutic agents because it could create pores or holes in the breast cancer cell membrane and other treatments could invade cancer cells and promote cell death. Tested

“Melittin is Small molecule Alternatively, chemotherapy such as docetaxel treats a very aggressive type of breast cancer. The combination of melittin and docetaxel was very effective in controlling tumor growth in mice. “

Dr. Duffy’s research was conducted as part of his PhD. A / Prof. at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medicine in Perth. Pilar Blanca Fort. “I started by collecting the venom of Perth honeybees, which are some of the healthiest people in the world.

“The bees sleep on carbon dioxide, are placed on ice before the poisonous thorns are pulled from the bee’s abdomen, and the poison was carefully dissected,” she said.

Although there are 20,000 species of honeybees, Dr. Duffy wanted to compare the effects of Perth’s honeybee venom to not only bumblebee venom, but to other honeybee populations in Ireland and England.

“I’m European Bee In Australia, Ireland and England produced almost the same effect milk Cancer compared to normal cell.. However, bumblebee venom was unable to induce cell death even at very high concentrations.

One of the first reports of the effects of bee venom Nature In 1950 poison Reduced the growth of plant tumors. However, Dr. Duffy said that interest has grown significantly over the last two decades. Bee venom To another cancer.

In the future, research will be needed to formally evaluate the best delivery method Melittin, And toxicity and maximum tolerated dose.