Snake Venom Toxins in Cancer Therapy: Current Advances and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Cancer remains one of the most serious health challenges worldwide, driving an urgent search for innovative treatments. Efforts to develop effective therapies are ongoing worldwide, with venom and its toxic peptides garnering considerable attention for their therapeutic potential against cancer.

Objective: This review aims to evaluate the potential of venom from snakes, highlighting their effects on various cancer cell lines.

Methodology: Published literature was examined to identify experimental and preclinical studies reporting anticancer activities of venoms and venom-derived peptides. Studies involving various cancer cell lines and mechanistic evaluations were included.  

Results: Studies show that these venoms can inhibit tumor growth, slow down the division of cancer cells, and reduce the progression of the disease. According to recent findings, venoms of snakes demonstrated anticancer activities involving mechanisms like apoptotic, antimetastatic, immunomodulation, multispecific targeting, cytotoxic, antiangiogenic, and antiproliferative. The cancer cell lines, including lung, breast, liver, colorectal, skin, brain, and blood, were inhibited by the venom of these organisms.

Conclusion: These findings offer hope, pointing to the potential of venom-based therapies to contribute to future breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

Keywords: Cancer therapy, Snake, Toxins, Venom