Natural substances destroy tumor cells Wasp poison can soon cure cancer

Brazilian wasp gives hope for novel cancer drugs
Wasps are usually unpopular and often cause anxiety through their painful stings. But a certain species from the southeast of Brazil could now ensure that the yellow-black insects are considered friendly in the future. Because scientists from Sao Paulo State University and the British University of Leeds came in lab tests to a fascinating result. Thus, the poison of the species "Polybia paulista" attack tumor cells, without damaging the healthy cells.

Poison of Polybia Paulista apparently acts only against tumor cells
Wasps as a miracle weapon in the fight against cancer? What sounds more like science fiction at first could possibly be possible in the future. Apparently the poison of a wasp originating from South America can act against tumor cells without attacking the healthy cells. This is reported by the British University of Leeds in a recent release. Thus, the toxic agent "MP1" in the poison of the insect may form the basis for new cancer drugs. That would be an immense progress, because current drugs can not distinguish between the different cells.

Wasp venom against cancer tumors? A study gives hope. Image: vitanovski - fotolia

Toxic agent "MP1" reacts with special fat molecules
According to the university, the examined wasp is the species "Polybia paulista", which is native to Brazil and is considered an aggressive insect. In order to defend itself against predators, it produces a highly effective poison containing the toxic agent "MP1". As the researchers looked more closely at its mode of action, MP1 showed that it reacted with fat molecules ("lipids"), which are distributed differently on the surface of tumor cells than in healthy cells, the report said. The reaction produced large holes through which molecules could escape from the cell interior, which are essential for the functioning of the cell. The surrounding healthy cells, however, were not harmed by the poison.

Way to a new class of cancer drugs for cancer?
According to Dr. João Ruggiero Neto may have been able to attribute this to the unique characteristics of cancer cell membranes. "Built in just seconds, these large pores are large enough to pass key molecules such as RNA and proteins," said the co-author of the study from São Paulo State University in Brazil.

"Cancer therapy that attacks the fluid composition of the cell membrane would be a pathway to a new class of anti-cancer drugs," explains Paul Beales of the University of Leeds and co-author of the study in the Communication. "This could be used to develop new combination therapies, where multiple drugs are used in parallel with cancer to simultaneously attack it from multiple sides," continues Paul Beales.

Only a few newly discovered substances are approved as a drug
But research is still in its infancy, say the scientists. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify whether MP1 can be safely and effectively used in the treatment of cancer patients. However, before a new discovery, such as wasp toxin, is approved as an active ingredient, years of research are usually needed and, in the end, only a minimal portion of the tested compounds actually make it into a regular drug. (No)