Register for Breast cancer, metastasis, growth reduced with i.v. bee venom therapy in murine model
Bee VenomSeptember 1, 2003
2003 SEP 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a mouse breast cancer model, intravenous but not intradermal bee venom reduced metastasis to lung.
According to published research from Croatia, "The possible tumor growth-inhibiting and metastasis-inhibiting effects of bee venom in mice and in tumor cell cultures were studied. The tumor was a transplantable mammary carcinoma (MCa) of CBA mouse.
"Intravenous administration of bee venom to mice significantly reduced the number of metastases in the lung. However, subcutaneous administration of bee venom did not reduce the number of lung metastases, indicating that the antitumor effect of the venom could be highly dependent on the route of injection as well as close contact between the components of the venom and the tumor cells, as was shown by in vitro studies on MCa cells. We also observed variations in immunological parameter induced by bee venom," wrote N. Orsolic and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "We propose that bee venom has an indirect mechanism of tumor growth inhibition and promotion of tumor rejection that is based on stimulation of the local cellular immune responses in lymph nodes. Apoptosis, necrosis, and lysis of tumor cells are other possible mechanisms by which bee venom inhibits tumor growth."
Orsolic and coworkers published their findings in Toxicon (Inhibition of mammary carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo by bee venom. Toxicon, 2003;41(7):861-870).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting N. Orsolic, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Dept Animal Physiol, Rooseveltov Trg 6, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
The publisher of the journal Toxicon can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd., the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Oncology, Immunology, Toxicology, Proteomics, Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
©Copyright 2003, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
