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Honeybee venom ‘kills some breast cancer cells’ according to scientists
Some good news!
Scientists have found an exciting discovery that the venom from honeybees can destroy aggressive breast cancer cells, under lab conditions.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women globally, and while there are thousands of chemical compounds that can fight cancer cells in lab settings, few can be produced as actual treatments for humans.
Similarly, the scientists involved in this experiment have cautioned that further testing is needed, however they have confirmed in lab settings the venom – a compound called melittin – has been used against two cancer types which are usually hard to treat, triple-negative and HER2-enriched.
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, Nature Precision Oncology, the study took place by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia.
The testing used the venom from 312 honeybees and bumblebees from Perth Western Australia, Ireland and England to see the effect of the venom on sub-types of breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer, which has limited treatment options.
Previous research found that bee venom contains anti-cancer properties for other types of cancer such as melanoma.
The PhD researcher who led the research, Ciara Duffy, explained that previously the effects on different sub-types of breast cancer and normal cells had not been compared. Duffy added that the venom was ‘extremely potent’.
The researchers found that the melittin compound on its own was effective in ‘shutting down’ or disrupting cancer cell growth. One concentration of the venom killed the cancer cells within an hour with minimal harm to other cells.
Duffy said: “We found that melittin can completely destroy cancer cell membranes within 60 minutes.”
Other dosage levels were found to be more toxic.
Melittin naturally occurs in honeybee venom, but could also be synthetically produced.
Western Australia’s chief scientist described the research as ‘incredibly exciting’.
Prof Peter Klinken said: “Significantly, this study demonstrates how melittin interferes with signalling pathways within breast cancer cells to reduce cell replication.
“It provides another wonderful example of where compounds in nature can be used to treat human diseases.”
Associate Prof Alex Swarbrick, from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, said regarding the research, ‘it’s very early days’.
He told the BBC: “Many compounds can kill a breast cancer cell in a dish or in a mouse. But there’s a long way to go from those discoveries to something that can change clinical practice.”
Duffy further added that ‘bumblebee venom was unable to induce cell death even at very high concentrations’ and that the effects of Perth honeybee venom to other honeybee populations in Ireland and England, as well as to the venom of bumblebees, should be compared.
Future studies should assess the optimum method of delivery of melittin, as well as toxicities and maximum tolerated doses.