Venoms Can Be a Boon for Cancer Patients

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Remarkable progress has recently been made toward understanding the proposed hallmarks of cancer development and treatment. Treatment modali- ties comprise radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapy. The use of chemotherapeutics currently remains the predominant option for cancer therapy. One of the major problems with successful cancer therapy using chemotherapeutics is that patients often do not respond or eventually develop resistance after initial treatment. This issue has led to the increased use of anticancer drugs developed from natural resources. The biodiversity of venoms and toxins make them a unique source from which new therapeu- tics may be developed. Some molecules of venom are under clinical trials and may be utilized in anticancer drug development in the near future. This review discusses the anticancer potential of different venoms, surveys the pharmacology of venom peptides, and assesses their therapeutic prospects.