Wasp’s venom could destroy tumours of leukemia, prostate & bladder cancer without harming tissue

[kpete]

Last edited Thu Sep 3, 2015, 02:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Wasp study finds sting in the tail for cancer cells
Research has found a Brazilian wasp’s venom could destroy tumours of leukaemia, prostate and bladder cancer without harming healthy tissue


The venom of the Brazilian wasp Polybia paulista contains a powerful “smart” drug that selectively targets and destroys tumour cells without harming normal cells, a study has shown.

In laboratory tests, the poison has been shown to suppress the growth of prostate and bladder cancer cells, as well as leukaemia cells resistant to a range of drugs.

New research has now revealed the secret of the venom toxin, known as MP1. Scientists found that it blows gaping holes in the protective membranes surrounding tumour cells by interacting with fatty molecules called lipids.

Dr Paul Beales, a researcher from Leeds University, said: “Cancer therapies that attack the lipid composition of the cell membrane would be an entirely new class of anti-cancer drugs.

“This could be useful in developing new combination therapies, where multiple drugs are used simultaneously to treat a cancer by attacking different parts of the cancer cells at the same time.”

MORE!:
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/01/wasp-study-sting-leukaemia-prostate-bladder-cancer-cells

[jonno99]

1. Wow - very cool! Thanks for posting this. nt

[Octafish]

2. K&R!

For news that matters.

[Glassunion]

3. Wow, and I thought their only reson for existing was to try and kill me.

Sweet. I hope they have to kill it (slowly) to get the venom. K&R for the hopeful death of many wasps.

[SheilaT]

4. I didn't think there were tumors associated with leukemia.

[TalkingDog]

6. The article does not state that there are.

Careful reading required.

[SheilaT]

15. The header in the OP says:

"Wasp’s venom could destroy tumours of leukaemia" etc. It says there are leukemia tumors. If the OP posted it that way, then shame on that person. If the original article says that, then double shame.

[Historic NY]

5. Interesting ...

K&R

[Omaha Steve]

7. K&R!

[Orrex]

8. I imagine that getting stung on the prostate would smart quite a bit

Better than the alternative, though.

K/R!

[FrodosPet]

9. That's debatable

I do NOT volunteer as a test subject.

Especially since a placebo wasp sting to the prostate is even scarier than a real one.

[msongs]

10. good news if true....and useful nt

[Eleanors38]

11. Next question: How do you collect it?

[R. P. McMurphy]

12. Or, hopefully, synthesize it. eom

[bunnies]

13. The same way they collected it for the study?

[Eleanors38]

17. Mass production can be a leap forward...

Even now, the cost of snake anti-venom is in the tens of thousands of dollars for each treatment.

[KamaAina]

14. I was just thinking about "leukaemia" yesterday afternoon

in the middle of a very long meeting.

I was wondering if this discovery

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027120009

programming cancer cells back to normal could be combined with dialysis to fight "leukaemia".

[MisterP]

16. now when I fill my enemies with tropical wasps I'm doing humanity a service!

[fadedrose]

18. Leukemia (us), Leukaemia - British

I'm glad you changed (not corrected, it was correct) because we U.S. dummies are uncomfortable with stuff we're not familiar with. I looked it up in Search.