Scientists liquid in earthworms can destroy lung cancer cells

Liquid from earthworms destroys lung cancer cells

Around one in four people in the European Union is dying of cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe. In addition to the surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy and / or radiation are also suitable for the treatment of the patients. In the future, a liquid derived from earthworms could possibly help against lung cancer.

A liquid extracted from earthworms

Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe, health experts still underestimate it. As the Cancer Information Service of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) explains on its website, depending on the "cancer type", chemotherapy and / or radiation as well as medications may be used in addition to surgical removal of the tumor. In the future, a liquid derived from earthworms could possibly contribute to the treatment of lung cancer.

A liquid extracted from the body cavity of earthworms could possibly be used in the development of a drug for lung cancer. (Image: patila / fotolia.com)

Animals help to heal people

Snake venom for hypertension, leech therapy for osteoarthritis, worms for inflammatory bowel disease:

Animals and their toxins or body fluids are used repeatedly to heal people. Not all methods have proven efficacy.

At the very beginning, scientists are researching a liquid derived from earthworms to help fight lung cancer.

Medicines for lung cancer

Polish researchers from two universities in Lublin studied a liquid extracted from the body cavity of earthworms, which could possibly be used in the development of a drug for lung cancer.

This substance destroyed 80 percent of lung cancer cells in laboratory tests and at the same time was non-toxic to normal cells, reports the portal "Science & Scholarship in Poland".

In the first tests, the substance was still unconvincing because it also harmed healthy tissues, said the scientists from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University and the Medical University of Lublin. As a result, the researchers changed the treatment of the liquid.

Research still in the beginning

According to the report, the drug is now undergoing further testing to determine if it can be used to develop a drug.

"We are at the end of the first phase of research into cells that grow outside the body and, in the next step, we are investigating the effects of these preparations on the organism of laboratory animals," said Prof. Jolanta Rzymowska of the Lublin Medical University.

The expert assumes that after the tests, a clinical application can be considered.

Toxic effect has been known for some time

The toxicity of the liquid extracted from earthworm celom had been previously described by scientists.

According to Dr. Marta Fiołka of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University is known from publications that this fluid is very toxic and breaks down red blood cells in a few minutes.

It is toxic not only to lung cancer, but also to normal cells in the bronchi. Researchers have therefore sought ways to "eliminate" toxicity to normal cells, says the scientist.

This was achieved by heating the liquid and the correct protein concentration in the preparation.

Earthworms are milked with light surges

To get to the substance, the earthworms are milked with weak surges (4.5 volts).

The celom fluid becomes According to Fiolek, along with blood cells ejected through the holes on the side of the rain-worm.

The liquid is then separated from the cells by centrifugation, filtered through bacteriological filters and then heated.

From an earthworm about 100 microliters of this liquid can be obtained. "These are very small amounts" Fiolka.

According to the researchers, it is too early to determine how much of it is needed to produce a drug. It is also unclear how long the research will take.

"Our enthusiasm urges us to continue our research, although it must be moderate, because at this point in time it can not be said yet whether a therapeutic drug will come out. This is the preparatory phase of laboratory research ", emphasized Prof. Rzymowska. (Ad)