A type of breast cancer could be treated with bee venom

A bee.

Drawing.

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Australian researchers claim that bee venom has properties that would destroy the malignant cells of certain types of breast cancer.

The virtues of the substance secreted by insects come from melittin, its main component, explains the study on the subject published this Tuesday in the scientific journal

and relayed by

.

The work has so far been carried out on laboratory mice.

They showed that the venom, taken from previously sleeping bees, was particularly effective in cases of aggressive breast cancer of the triple negative type.

The Institut Curie estimates that 15% of all patients suffering from this cancer suffer from this specific type of pathology, which is also one of the most dangerous.

Many tests should be carried out

In some trials using a specific dosage of venom, the product eliminated all of the tumors within one hour.

“What melittin does is that it actually penetrates the surface, or the plasma membrane, and forms holes or pores and just causes the cell to die,” says Ciara Duffy, co-author of the study. .

The effects of the substance go even further, however.

The venom eliminates the possibilities of cancer progression by neutralizing the chemical markers that allow cancer cells to multiply.

Combined with drugs administered during chemotherapy, this treatment could ultimately prove to be effective on patients.

In the meantime, many other tests must be carried out to determine the correct concentration and to ensure the safety of the process.

Clinical trials could then be conducted.

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