Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Establishment of Hepatocarcinoma in BALB/c-nu Mice and Investigation of the Therapeutic Effect of the Sanleng Jiashen Formula
Published on: January 26, 2024
Selective Inhibition of Liver Cancer Cells Using Venom Peptide
Prachi Anand1,2,3,4, Petr Filipenko5, Jeannette Huaman6,7,8
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, Belfer Research Building 413 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. prachiacbr.du@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Increasingly cancer is being viewed as a channelopathy because the passage of ions via ion channels and transporters mediate the regulation of tumor cell survival, death, and motility. As a result, a potential targeted therapy for cancer is to use venom peptides that are selective for ion channels and transporters overexpressed in tumor cells. Here we describe the selectivity and mechanism of action of terebrid snail venom peptide, Tv1, for treating the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tv1 inhibited the proliferation of murine HCC cells and significantly reduced tumor size in Tv1-treated syngeneic tumor-bearing mice. Tv1's mechanism of action involves binding to overexpressed transient receptor potential (TRP) channels leading to calcium dependent apoptosis resulting from down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Our findings demonstrate the importance of modulating ion channels and the unique potential of venom peptides as tumor specific ligands in the quest for targeted cancer therapies.
Insights
Terebrid snail venom peptide Tv1 targets cancer's ion channel activity. This novel therapy shows promise in reducing liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell proliferation and tumor size.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cancer is increasingly recognized as a channelopathy, where ion channels and transporters regulate tumor cell survival, death, and motility.
- Targeted cancer therapies utilizing venom peptides selective for overexpressed ion channels present a promising therapeutic strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the selectivity and mechanism of action of the terebrid snail venom peptide, Tv1.
- To evaluate Tv1's efficacy as a targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common form of liver cancer.
Main Methods:
- Described the selectivity and mechanism of action of Tv1.
- Assessed Tv1's effect on murine HCC cell proliferation.
- Evaluated tumor size reduction in syngeneic tumor-bearing mice treated with Tv1.
Main Results:
- Tv1 demonstrated inhibition of murine HCC cell proliferation.
- Significant reduction in tumor size was observed in Tv1-treated mice.
- Tv1's mechanism involves binding to overexpressed transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, inducing calcium-dependent apoptosis via cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) down-regulation.
Conclusions:
- Modulating ion channels is crucial in cancer treatment.
- Venom peptides like Tv1 hold unique potential as tumor-specific ligands for targeted cancer therapies.
- Tv1 represents a novel therapeutic candidate for hepatocellular carcinoma.
