News > Geek > Radioactive Scorpion Venom vs. Cancer

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 28 2006 4:00 PM

Radioactive Scorpion Venom vs. Cancer

Submitted by Posh

Edited by Rahodeb

Tags: radioactive, venom, spiderman, cancer

A tale out of science fiction, health physicists have discovered a way to turn radioactive scorpion venom into a brain-cancer fighting treatment. The venom hails from the yellow Israeli scorpion. When combined with the radioactive substance iodine-131, the venom protein attaches itself onto the glioma cells, releasing radiation that kills the cell.

This experimental treatment would help patients with high-grade gliomas, a cancer causing death generally within the first year of diagnosis. Currently in phase 2 of human trials, the venom therapy is already showing hope for treatment, and longer survival rates.

As Jackson discovered, the TM-601 that does not bind to cells in the body is rapidly excreted in the urine. "Other tissues will receive some dose," he says, "but the vast majority of the dose is delivered to the cancer cells." To prevent the radioactive compound from being absorbed by the thyroid, which has a voracious appetite for iodine, the patients were given large amounts of non-radioactive iodine prior to the therapy to block the thyroid uptake of I-131.

I really do wonder how the researchers in question developed their thesis question. While I'm sure the actual thought process was based upon previous studies of venom properties, I much rather imagine them sitting in a dark room, talking about spiderman, possibly under the influence, and deciding it would be way cool to actually develop radioactive venom, you know, just to say I did that.

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Comments

MrCrisp

I'm lost

August 2004

JUN 28, 2006 04:09 PM

suddenly, the idea of a giant, radioactive scorpion stinging me in the head doesn't seem so bad. i, for one, welcome our giant, radioactive scorpion oncologist overlords.

StopSnitchin

Hudson, NH

February 2004

JUN 28, 2006 04:29 PM

Shit! I just got rid of my Israeli Yellow scorpion! Maybe I'll let my emperor scorpion sting me day to day now and become a superhero???

Phantasy

Australia

October 2005

JUN 28, 2006 04:36 PM

Fuck scorpions are cool.

MschfMayhemSoap

Phoenix, AZ

April 2006

JUN 28, 2006 04:39 PM

treating Poison with poison..... I think I saw this treatment in the movie Iron Monkey... Kik ass!

MC_Dove

Cincinnati, OH

November 2004

JUN 28, 2006 04:45 PM

i always love hearing about stuff like this, but it makes me way jealous. i sit in the lab working with peptide scaffolds while other guys get to talk about radioactive venom and killing cancer.

ThisIsWhoWeAre

Oakland, CA

July 2004

JUN 28, 2006 04:46 PM

StopSnitchin said:
Shit! I just got rid of my Israeli Yellow scorpion! Maybe I'll let my emperor scorpion sting me day to day now and become a superhero???

I say do it! Be sure to let us know how that goes... How could an idea that cool possibly go wrong?

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

JUN 28, 2006 05:33 PM

I cure cancer. So GET OVER HERE!

-TM

nowhitebelts

Santa Clara, CA

December 2003

JUN 28, 2006 05:34 PM

Radscorpions, I don't see what's so rad about them.

MschfMayhemSoap

Phoenix, AZ

April 2006

JUN 28, 2006 05:39 PM

ThisIsWhoWeAre said:

StopSnitchin said:
Shit! I just got rid of my Israeli Yellow scorpion! Maybe I'll let my emperor scorpion sting me day to day now and become a superhero???

I say do it! Be sure to let us know how that goes... How could an idea that cool possibly go wrong?

Cairo

SUICIDEGIRL

Maryland, USA

JUN 28, 2006 06:00 PM

What I'd give to be the guy that thought:

Radiation
Scorpion Venom
+ THE HUMAN BRAIN
Cure for Cancer

I'm still pretty hit and miss with my

Cream of Wheat
+ Water________
Cream of Wheat

formula.

This is very cool, though.