Synthetic Scorpion Venom Targets Brain Tumor Cells The giant yellow Israeli scorpion kills its prey with venom that blocks chloride channels, but its bite is not fatal to people. The first human trial testing a synthetic version of the active protein in this venom, known as TM-601, shows that it may be a safe way to improve results in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a deadly brain cancer. The drug is "simple to deliver, well tolerated, remains highly localized to the treatment site, and preliminarily seems safe for repeated injections," writes Dr. Adam N. Mamelak, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and colleagues in the August 1 Journal of Clinical Oncology. The 18 adult patients in this phase I trial underwent surgery for GBM that had relapsed after first-line treatment. After removing all visible tumor tissue, surgeons implanted a small device under the patients' scalps with a tube leading to the surgical site. Two to 4 weeks later, when the patients had recovered from surgery, TM-601 tagged with iodine-131 was injected directly into the tumor cavity, with six patients each getting 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg of the drug. Patients had very few and only minor adverse effects 3 weeks after receiving the drug. Imaging showed that TM-601 attached almost exclusively to tumor cells, with very little residue elsewhere in the body. Two-thirds of patients achieved stable disease, and two women receiving the 0.50 mg dose had complete responses, no recurrent disease, and were still alive 37 and 39 months, respectively, after surgery. Source: NCI Cancer Bulletin, August 8, 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.