Octopus Venom Could Be Potential New Treatment for Skin Cancer, Research Says

New research helping people with cancers revealed that octopus venom could be a potential treatment for people with the most serious cancer.

Skin cancer has been the main concern, and the researchers wanted to find new treatments to slow down the growth.

According to the American Cancer Society, Melanoma Skin Cancer is a less common cancer that could grow and spread. It occurs when the melanocytes show to grow out of control or what is unexpected.

A patient with melanoma could be in a dangerous situation if not treated early.

In the health news from Newsweek, researchers from Australia and Spain looked into octopus venom and how it could be beneficial in fighting cancer.

The research was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology this month.

The study's lead author, Dr. Maria Ikonomopoulou, told Newsweek that they know that animals like bees, spiders, and snakes exhibit anticancer properties.

Dr. Ikonomopoulou is also from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland.

The lead author added that studying the octopus for anticancer properties was not seen before.

Moreover, the researchers then studied the Australian southern sand octopus. They discovered that the octopus has an important compound that shows to help slow cancer growth in the body.

Most importantly, the study found that the compound in the octopus could deal with the drug resistance of patients with BRAF-mutated Melanoma.

Meanwhile, the American Cancer Society explained that skin self-exam would be helpful for the early detection of skin cancer, including Melanoma.

Treatments of the said skin cancer will vary depending on the cancer stages.

In addition, the researchers explained that the BRAF is a gene that regulates cell growth.

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When the gene undergoes mutation, causing malfunction, it could result in rapid to uncontrollable cell growth in the body.

The Newsweek report said that the study noted BRAF mutations found mostly in melanoma cases.

On the contrary, the research lead explained that patients with Melanoma underwent targeted approaches to deal with skin cancer involving immunotherapy.

The approach had great outcomes, but the challenges came from the adverse effects of the approach, low response rate, or drug resistance.

Octopus peptide

Dr. Ikonomopoulou told Newsweek that the octopus peptide assists in stopping the spread of BRAF-mutated Melanoma, noting that it has shown to be safe and not toxic even in high doses.

The report added that better results could occur with the combination of other FDA-approved melanoma drug use.

The study said that they would then conduct a preclinical and clinical assessment in the lab as a drug candidate for melanoma cancer treatment.

With the octopus peptide believed to target the BRAF-melanoma mutation, the researchers will also look into the same result in other BRAF-mutated cancers, including colon and prostate.

Skin Cancers

Being the most serious type of skin cancer, the America Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) said that Melanoma could spread and develop from a or within a mole looking like a dark spot. As it spreads rapidly, it becomes deadly.

Furthermore, the AAD explained skin cancers:

BCC (Basal cell carcinoma ) is a common skin cancer. According to the report, it is common to appear on the neck, arms, head, or anywhere in the body. It shows up like a pinkish patch on the affected skin.
SSC (Squamous cell carcinoma) is the second known type of skin cancer, appearing like a red firm bump or sore-looking on the skin.