Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...

Cancer

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Antimicrobial peptides from arthropod venoms exhibit activity against <i>Sporothrix</i> species.

The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases·2026

Same author

Identification and In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of (E)-Nerolidol From Piper mollicomum Kunth Essential Oil in Breast and Lung Cancer Cell Lines.

Chemistry & biodiversity·2026

Same author

Mitotic Machinery Dysregulation in Lung Cancer: Biological Roles, Therapeutic Targeting, and Combination Strategies.

Pharmaceutics·2026

Same author

Artificial intelligence-based screening of phytochemicals for targeted cancer therapy.

Natural products and bioprospecting·2026

Same author

BCL-2 and BCL-xL in Cancer: Regulation, Function, and Therapeutic Targeting.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same author

Animal Venoms as Peptide Libraries for the Discovery of Antiglioblastoma Agents.

Biochemistry research international·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Tripeptide-Stabilized Nanoemulsion of Oleic Acid

A Tripeptide-Stabilized Nanoemulsion of Oleic Acid

Published on: February 27, 2019

Toxin-Derived Peptides as Potentials Weapons Against Cancer.

Bárbara Pinto^1,2,3, Joaquim Teixeira de Avelar Júnior⁴, Edleusa Marques Lima⁵

¹Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil.

|June 26, 2026

Summary

Animal toxins offer novel anticancer drugs. Peptides from scorpions, snakes, bees, spiders, and frogs show potent effects against cancer cells, paving the way for targeted therapies with fewer side effects.

Keywords:

animal toxins anticancer activity antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)drug delivery systems mechanism of action therapeutic applications of peptides toxin peptides

More Related Videos

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation

Published on: January 26, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Tripeptide-Stabilized Nanoemulsion of Oleic Acid

A Tripeptide-Stabilized Nanoemulsion of Oleic Acid

Published on: February 27, 2019

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation

Published on: January 26, 2016

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Toxicology

Background:

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Conventional cancer treatments often lack specificity and cause significant adverse effects.
Animal toxins represent an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the potential of animal-derived toxin peptides as a source for novel anticancer drug development.
To explore the discovery, development, and therapeutic applications of these compounds against various cancers.
To highlight their mechanisms of action and potential for targeted cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on animal toxins and their anticancer activities.
Analysis of in vitro and in vivo data on the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of toxin peptides.
Examination of toxicity profiles and mechanisms of action of selected compounds.

Main Results:

Peptides from diverse animal sources (scorpions, snakes, bees, spiders, frogs) exhibit significant antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against cancer cells.
Several toxin-derived compounds have shown efficacy in preclinical models for various prevalent cancer types.
Toxin peptides offer potential for targeted drug delivery and reduced side effects compared to conventional therapies.

Conclusions:

Animal toxins are a promising source for the development of novel, targeted anticancer agents.
Further research into toxin peptide mechanisms and preclinical/clinical evaluation is warranted.
This approach represents a paradigm shift towards more efficient and specific cancer therapies.