Breast cancer is most common among women, and second in overall incidence after lung cancer. Breast Cancer affects 2.1 million women every year, and is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Breast cancer claimed the lives of 627,000 women in 2018. This represents approximately 15% all women’s cancer deaths. Triple negative breast cancer has been deemed more aggressive than any other type of breast cancer. There is no clinically effective treatment for this cancer. A young Australian scientist found the cure for triple-negative breast cancer in honeybees.
Dr Ciara Duffy is a 25-year old scientist at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia. She has discovered that honeybee venom can kill breast cancer cells which are aggressive and difficult to treat without harming healthy tissue. Dr Duffy is confident that this discovery will lead to a treatment for triple negative breast cancer. This cancer accounts for between 10 and 20 percent of breast cancer cases.
Facts about Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast carcinoma is characterized by the absence of growth hormones such as estrogen, progesterone or HER2. Such cancers are usually negative for estrogen receptors and progesterone-receptors. They also test low on HER2 protein. Medicines that target HER2 receptors or hormone therapy are ineffective against triple-negative cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer patients have a worse prognosis because there are fewer drugs that target the cancer. The cancer is more likely than other types of breast cancer to spread outside the breast, and to return after treatment. Triple-negative breast cancers are treated by combining surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Researchers and doctors have been trying to find new medications that neutralize breast carcinoma cells.
Dr Duffy discovered that honeybee venom could kill cancer cells within an hour, with little damage to the other cells. The findings were published in peer-reviewed Nature Precision Oncology.
It is possible to synthesize the key compound of bee venom
Dr Duffy collected venom from honeybee hives in Australia, Ireland, and England and studied its effects on breast cancer. Perth bees, according to Dr Duffy are among the most healthy in the world.
Honeybee venom is extremely effective at killing aggressive breast cancers cells, even in concentrations that don’t harm normal cells. Melittin, the main ingredient of the venom which had the killing effects, can be synthesized by Dr Duffy.
Dr Duffy found that melittin could shut down the signaling pathway of triple-negative cancer cells and HER2 within 20 minutes. She explained that these signaling pathways were fundamental to the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.
When Melittin interferes with the signaling pathways in breast cancer cells, it can reduce/inhibit cell replication.
Melittin, when combined with chemotherapy drugs, was found to be able reduce tumour growth effectively in mice.
Other scientists have stressed that further testing is needed.
