Washington University is presently studying the use of bee venom in small amounts for treating certain cancers. Even more interesting is the way the venom is delivered.
Using nanotechnology, researchers are studying the affect of melittin, a toxin found in bee venom, on cancer tumor cells. The melittin would normally cause death to blood and tissue cells whether healthy or cancerous. However, by using nanoparticles, called “nanobees”, only the tumor cells are targeted, leaving the healthy tissue alone.
Nanotechnology is becoming more supported throughout the medical community because of its potential to customize a patient’s treatment. Presently this technology is being studied for breast cancer and ovarian cancer treatments; prostate cancer clinical trials are expected to begin later this year.
It is the hope of researchers that nanotechnology can be proven effective in the treatment of pervasive cancers such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive asbestos cancer, and getting appropriate treatment is critical. For more information, check out our mesothelioma treatment pages, or contact one of our mesothelioma family advocates .
Tags: mesothelioma, mesothelioma research, mesothelioma treatment
