Bee, Snake and Scorpion Venom Could Be Used to Fight Cancer

Telegraph, 8/11/2014

A number of scientific studies have singled out the harmful effects of neonicotinoids that are said to affect the nervous systems of bees.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are new nicotine-like chemicals that act on the nervous systems of insects, and are blamed for damaging bees’ brains Photo: AP

Sarah Knapton By Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent4:07PM BST 11 Aug 2014 Comments4 Comments

Bee, snake and scorpion venom could be used in fight against cancer after trials showed that the toxins can kill tumours.

Researchers have found the poison contained in insect stings or reptile bites kills breast and skin cancer cells in the lab.

And they have managed to encase the venom in a tiny particle which stops the poison leaking into the blood and harming the patient.

Dr Dipanjan Pan, of the University of Illinois, said: “We have safely used venom toxins in tiny nanometer-sized particles to treat breast cancer and melanoma cells in the laboratory.

"These particles, which are camouflaged from the immune system, take the toxin directly to the cancer cells, sparing normal tissue…