Anticancer Potential of Spider Venom

Abstract

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases characterized by an abnormal growth of cells that evade from programmed cell death (apoptosis), invade tissues, spread in the body (metastasis). It is responsible for the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide. About 60 % of the world's total new annual cases are in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America. Animal venoms, especially spider venoms, contain a mixture of proteins, peptides, and small molecules that evolved through natural selection to subdue and kill the prey. Spider venoms and derivatives show several pharmacological activities, and their role as tools for drug development in cancer treatment has been explored by many groups. Spider venoms and derivatives show anticancer activity through various pathways, as apoptosis, anoikis, necrosis, modulation of ion channels (calcium, potassium, and sodium channels), regulation of glutamate receptors, and pore formation. Moreover, venoms and derivatives have been described as adjuvants in oncology, whether diminishing tissue damage caused by extravasation of some chemotherapeutic agents or facilitating drug entry through the cell membrane. This chapter highlights in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as patent documents that show the importance of spider venoms and derivatives in the control of cancer-related biological processes.