[Catalyst 2017]

VEN
M, M.D.
by NICK FALKENBERG
Nature, as mesmerizing as it can be, is undeniably
hostile. There are endless hazards, both living
and nonliving, scattered throughout all parts of
the planet. At first glance, the world seems to be quite
unwelcoming. Yet through science, humans find ways
to survive nature and gain the ability to see its beauty.
A fascinating way this is achieved involves taking one
deadly element of nature and utilizing it to combat
another. In labs and universities across the world
today, scientists are fighting one of the world’s most
devastating diseases, cancer, with a surprising weapon:
animal toxins.
Various scientists around the globe are collecting
venomous or poisonous animals and studying the
biochemical weapons they synthesize. In their natural
forms, these toxins could kill or cause devastating harm
to the human body. However, by closely inspecting the
chemical properties of these toxins, we have uncovered
many potential ways they could help us understand,
treat, and cure various diseases. These discoveries
have shed a new light on many of the deadly animals
we have here on Earth. Mankind may have gained
new friends—ones that could be crucial to our
survival against cancer and other illnesses.
Take the scorpion, for example. This
arachnid exists in hundreds of forms
across the globe. Although its stinger
is primarily used for killing prey, it is
often used for defense against other
animals, including humans. Most
cases of scorpion stings result in
nothing more than pain, swelling, and
numbness of the area. However, there
are some species of scorpions that
are capable of causing more severe
symptoms, including death. 1 One such
species, Leiurus quinquestriatus (more
commonly known as the “deathstalker
scorpion”), is said to contain
some of the most potent
venoms on the planet. 2
Yet despite its
potency,
deathstalker venom is a prime target for cancer
research. One team of scientists from the University
of Washington used the chlorotoxin in the venom to
assist in gene therapy (the insertion of genes to fight
disease) to combat glioma, a widespread and fatal
brain cancer. Chlorotoxin has two important properties
that make it effective against fighting glioma. First, it
selectively binds to a surface protein found on many
tumour cells. Second, chlorotoxin is able to inhibit the
spread of tumours by disabling their metastatic ability.
The scientists combined the toxin with nanoparticles in
order to increase the effectiveness of gene therapy. 3,4
Other scientists found a different way to treat
glioma using deathstalker venom. Researchers
at the Transmolecular Corporation in Cambridge,
Massachusetts produced an artificial version of the
venom and attached it to a radioactive form of iodine,
I-131. The resultant compound was able to find and kill
glioma cells by releasing radiation, most of which was
absorbed by the cancerous cells. 5 There are instances
of other scorpion species aiding in cancer research
as well, such as the Centruroides tecomanus scorpion
in Mexico. This species’ toxin contains peptides that
The scientists combined
the toxin with nanoparticles
in order to increase the
effectiveness of gene
therapy.
have the ability to specifically target lymphoma cells
and kill them by damaging their ion channels. The
selective nature of the peptides makes them especially
useful as a cancer treatment as they leave healthy cells
untouched. 6
Scorpions have demonstrated tremendous medical
potential, but they are far from the only animals that
could contribute to the fight against cancer. Another
animal that may help us overcome this disease is the
wasp. To most people, wasps are nothing more than
annoying pests that disturb our outdoor life. Wasps
are known for their painful stings, which they use both
for defense and for hunting. Yet science has shown
that the venom of these insects may have medicinal
properties. Researchers from the Institute for
Biomedical Research in Barcelona investigated
a peptide found in wasp venom for its ability
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