Using a toxic substance in fungi to treat cancer

A team of researchers has proposed a method to kill cancer cells by using the deadly fungal toxin (Amanita phalloides), without harming the body.

It is an a-amanitin poison that can be lethal in white mushroom death mushrooms. It can kill any cell, whether it's healthy cells or cancer cells.

Based on this characteristic, researchers at the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg Tumor Center, Max Planck Medical Research Institute and other scientists have developed ways to kill cancer cells. Based on a-amanitin poison.

Picture 1 of Using a toxic substance in fungi to treat cancer
The deadly poison of a-amantin in the death hat mushroom can kill cancer cells

In order for the toxin to not affect the body, the researchers used a device to deliver toxins to the correct location of cancer cells at EpCAM proteins . This method has been clinically tested in animals such as mice, suggesting that two high doses of fungal toppings can reduce tumor growth by 90% without harming the liver and organs. Other of animals.

It is known that EpCAM is a type of epithelial cell that most malignant tumors arise from it. People with pancreatic, breast and ovarian cancers are all overproduced by EpCAM. Using the poison in the mushroom cap like this can bring new hope for the dramatic decline of EpCAM.