Cytotoxic effect of crotoxin on cancer cells and its antitumoral effects correlated to tumor microenvironment: A review

Autor(es)

Almeida, Tamires Cunha ; Silva, Lorena de Morais Ribeiro ; de Oliveira, Ana Maria Boaventura ; Lopes, Flavia Souza Ribeiro ; Sant'Anna, Morena Brazil ; Picolo, Gisele

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules; v. 242, p. 8-pg., 2023-05-19.

Resumo

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and despite the effort of standard treatments, the search for new tools against this disease is necessary. Importantly, it is known that the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapies. Therefore, studies of potential drugs that act on these components are as critical as studies regarding antiproliferative substances. Through the years, studies of several natural products, including animal toxins, have been conducted to guide the development of medical compounds. In this review, we present the remarkable antitumor activities of crotoxin, a toxin from the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, highlighting its effects on cancer cells and in the modulation of relevant elements in the tumor microenvironment as well as the clinical trials conducted with this compound. In sum-mary, crotoxin acts through several mechanisms of action, such as activation of apoptosis, induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibition of metastasis, and decrease of tumor growth, in different tumor types. Crotoxin also modulates tumor-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, which contribute to its antitumoral effects. In addition, preliminary clinical studies confirm the promising results of crotoxin and support its potential future use as an anticancer drug. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/07467-1 - CeTICS - Centro de Toxinas, Imuno-Resposta e Sinalização Celular
• Beneficiário: Hugo Aguirre Armelin
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs
• Processo FAPESP: 21/10344-5 - Identificação de peptídeos derivados da crotoxina com potencial antitumoral e imunomodulatório
• Beneficiário: Tamires Cunha Almeida
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 19/17109-1 - Identificação de peptídeos derivados da crotoxina com potencial antitumoral e imunomodulatório em modelo de Melanoma Cutâneo e de Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental
• Beneficiário: Gisele Picolo
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular