Publication Date
Spring 5-2019
School
School of Health Sciences
Major
Zoology
Keywords
venom, cancer, apoptosis, integrin, angiogenesis, disintegrin, L-amino oxidase, lectin, phospholipase
Recommended Citation
Pena, Noel, "Engineering the Rod of Asclepius – A Biochemical Investigation of Snake Venom Components and their Application as Potential Cancer Treatments" (2019). Senior Honors Theses. 887.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/887
Abstract
In the wild, venom is crucial to many snakes’ success as predators. While antivenin research focuses on combatting venoms’ abilities to disrupt physiological processes, new studies are attempting to manipulate these same abilities into anticancer therapies. Given the diversity of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, cytotoxins, and others, every new discovery and development within snake venom research adds to the knowledge base and broadens applicational opportunities. Cancer-related venom research isolates various components, manipulates their interaction with target cancer cell lines, and evaluates how their natural biochemical activity counteracts mechanisms that are integral to tumor development. Several more promising components, namely disintegrins, lectins, oxidases, and phospholipases, have emerged. Summarizing and highlighting recent research of these key components can serve as a springboard for future venom-derived antitumor medicines.
