V is for Venom
Cancer causes around one in four of all deaths in the UK, although research into cancer treatment has resulted in a decrease of a fifth in cancer mortality rates since the early 1970s. We are always, however, continually searching for new cancer treatments as to replace current drugs that may have serious side effects or become ineffectual over time. As chemical compounds are failing, we are looking to nature to find new drugs.
Venoms from spiders, snakes and scorpions are made up from thousands of different compounds and some of these cause harm; for example, cause the blood to clot or cause the victim to bleed to death. They can also affect the nervous system and can be toxic to cells. But if you separate the venom out into its various components some have been shown to kill cancer cells specifically.
Research at Canterbury Christ Church University in collaboration with Venomtech Ltd has been investigating the effect of a range of animal venoms on specific cancer cell pathways that block these cells from growing. There are a certain group of proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases that are found in high amounts on the surface of cancer cells compared to normal healthy cells that can be targeted with drugs. Components of the venom can bind to these proteins and stop the cancer cells from growing.
Some of these components even act before the venom has been separated. We undertook a study using whole venom and a range of these receptor tyrosine kinases that are involved in cancer progression including a process called angiogenesis which is the growth of blood vessels that provides nutrients and oxygen to help a tumour grow quickly.
We looked at the effect of these venoms on a breast cancer type called triple negative breast cancer which is very difficult to treat and is typically a much more aggressive cancer. We can grow these breast cancer cells in the laboratory to do these tests.
When we dosed the breast cancer cells with a range of venoms we found that a venom from the Brazilian white knee tarantula or theraphosid halts the growth of cancer cells by blocking the signalling of another protein that helps the growth of tumours. This protein is called the Epidermal growth factor receptor (or EGFR).
Signalling of some other receptor proteins called Ephrins (Eph) which are also found in high amounts on specific cancer cells were also blocked by venoms from the Brazilian white knee theraphosid, the Western green mamba and the Indian cobra.
Since this study we have identified the components in the venom that affect the activity of the Epidermal growth factor receptor and are currently writing up this research for publication.
Dr Carol Trim is a Principal Lecturer in Cancer Biology. Her research focuses on utilising venoms to look for new cancer treatments and antimicrobial compounds. She collaborates with Steve Trim and colleagues from Venomtech Ltd based at Discovery Park in Sandwich.
Steve Trim is Founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Venomtech Ltd. His background is in molecular biology, and he is an expert on the use of venom and toxin-derived compounds for drug discovery and biopesticides.
Reference
McCullough D, Atofanei C, Knight E, Trim SA, Trim CM. Kinome scale profiling of venom effects on cancer cells reveals potential new venom activities. Toxicon. 2020 Oct 15;185:129–146. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.07.007. Epub 2020 Jul 17. PMID: 32682827.
