Meeting Abstract
Venom peptides from predatory organisms are a resource for investigating evolutionary processes such as adaptive radiation or diversification, and exemplify promising targets for biomedical drug development. Using a venomics approach, we identified novel terebrid venom peptides, teretoxins. and characterized their function as anti-cancer agents. The most common treatment for patients with liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is chemotherapy with doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin, or targeted therapy with sorafenib. Compared to traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radioactive treatment, peptidic compounds with high specificity for cancer cells provide a route of killing cancer cells while protecting normal cells. There is an urgent need to find novel therapies for HCC that are selective to liver and lead to better clinical outcomes. Venomous peptides are an innovative arena for investigation of novel cancer therapies. Most venomous snail peptides are antagonists that inhibit the function of their target ion channel. Membrane ion channels play an important role in cell proliferation and the development of cancer. We examined the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of novel teretoxin Tv1 from Terebra variegata . Results indicate Tv1 is highly specific in inhibiting liver cancer cell lines, preventing tumor cell migration using an apoptotic cell death pathway. We have identified a potential mechanism of action for Tv1 using migration assays, mouse models, and immunoblotting of certain key factors. The virtues and versatility of venom peptides have propelled them to the top of diagnostic and therapeutic arenas. Newly identified teretoxins, such as Tv1, have the potential to significantly advance the creation of dual purpose, targeted imaging agents and therapeutics for cancer cells.
