Scorpion Venom Used to Treat Brain Cancer

An experimental brain-cancer treatment using radioactive scorpion venom shows promise for treating brain tumors. Scientists at Transmolecular Corp. reported early results of the first human trials at a meeting of the Health Physics Society in Providence, Rhode Island.

The venom of the yellow Israeli scorpion preferentially attaches to the cells of a type of essentially incurable brain cancers known as gliomas. Transmolecular Corp. scientists have created a synthetic radioactive version of this venom called TM-601 or chlorotoxin. The compound can be injected directly into the brain or given intravenously. The venom protein attaches to the glioma cells and the radiation kills them, explains an article posted on Live Science.com. Nearly 17,000 people in the U.S. suffer from glioma-type brain cancer which is generally fatal.

Trials are being conducted by the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan and other institutions and have only involved a few dozen people to date. A similar clinical trail is being conducted by Richard Bucholz at the St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri. Bucholz uses catheters to insert the drugs directly to the tumor site to avoid possible side effects.

"Malignant gliomas cannot be wholly eradicated through surgery or other currently available therapies," Bucholz said. "A safe, effective treatment for malignant gliomas has the potential to increase the life expectancy of thousands of Americans suffering from this terrible disease."

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