GLORIOUS VENOM

Using the venom from 312 honeybees and bumblebees, Dr Ciara Duffy from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and The University of Western Australia, has tested the effect of the venom on different types of breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer, which has limited treatment options. Results published in the journal npj Precision Oncology revealed that honeybee venom rapidly destroyed triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells. “We tested honeybee venom on normal breast cells, and cells from the clinical subtypes of breast cancer: hormone receptor positive, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer,” says Duffy. “We found both honeybee venom and melittin (positively charged peptide in honeybee venom) significantly, selectively and rapidly reduced the viability of triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells.”