Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review
Abstract Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with incidence rates continuously increasing, thereby posing a major healthcare challenge. Although many oncological drugs fulfill therapeutic requirements, they often show high toxicity due to their limited specificity....
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SciELO
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1678-91992025000100202&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | Yenny Yolanda Lozano Jiménez Juan Daniel Hernández Vargas David Mateo Navarrete Benavides Ruth Mélida Sánchez Mora |
| author_facet | Yenny Yolanda Lozano Jiménez Juan Daniel Hernández Vargas David Mateo Navarrete Benavides Ruth Mélida Sánchez Mora |
| author_sort | Yenny Yolanda Lozano Jiménez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with incidence rates continuously increasing, thereby posing a major healthcare challenge. Although many oncological drugs fulfill therapeutic requirements, they often show high toxicity due to their limited specificity. To address this problem, there has been a search for natural therapies, including animal venoms that harbor bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential, as well as biological models that facilitate their study. Consequently, three-dimensional culture models, such as spheroids, play a pivotal role in evaluating anticancer molecules, as they can effectively mimic in vivo tumor microenvironments. Methods: This study aimed to establish the significance of spheroids in identifying venom-derived molecules as potential therapeutic alternatives against cancer, based on a systematic review conducted from 2010 to 2024. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in four databases using the terms “Spheroid” and “Venom”. Of the 93 articles identified, 16 satisfied the inclusion criteria for this review. Results: Notably, several bioactive molecules derived from snake, spider, scorpion, and bee venoms were evaluated using various spheroid formation methods. These molecules demonstrated cytotoxic effects that impaired spheroid formation and disrupted invasion and migration processes. Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicate that the integration of three-dimensional culture models with venom-derived compounds constitutes a promising preclinical strategy for the development of innovative, venom-based therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4ef25b68bbe468d8b379231e94884fa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1678-9199 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | SciELO |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4ef25b68bbe468d8b379231e94884fa2025-08-20T03:07:32ZengSciELOJournal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases1678-91992025-05-013110.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2024-0068Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 reviewYenny Yolanda Lozano Jiménezhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5419-2971Juan Daniel Hernández VargasDavid Mateo Navarrete Benavideshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4726-9309Ruth Mélida Sánchez Morahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0572-8418Abstract Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with incidence rates continuously increasing, thereby posing a major healthcare challenge. Although many oncological drugs fulfill therapeutic requirements, they often show high toxicity due to their limited specificity. To address this problem, there has been a search for natural therapies, including animal venoms that harbor bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential, as well as biological models that facilitate their study. Consequently, three-dimensional culture models, such as spheroids, play a pivotal role in evaluating anticancer molecules, as they can effectively mimic in vivo tumor microenvironments. Methods: This study aimed to establish the significance of spheroids in identifying venom-derived molecules as potential therapeutic alternatives against cancer, based on a systematic review conducted from 2010 to 2024. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in four databases using the terms “Spheroid” and “Venom”. Of the 93 articles identified, 16 satisfied the inclusion criteria for this review. Results: Notably, several bioactive molecules derived from snake, spider, scorpion, and bee venoms were evaluated using various spheroid formation methods. These molecules demonstrated cytotoxic effects that impaired spheroid formation and disrupted invasion and migration processes. Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicate that the integration of three-dimensional culture models with venom-derived compounds constitutes a promising preclinical strategy for the development of innovative, venom-based therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1678-91992025000100202&lng=en&tlng=en3D cell cultureVenomsAntineoplastic agentsComplementary therapies |
| spellingShingle | Yenny Yolanda Lozano Jiménez Juan Daniel Hernández Vargas David Mateo Navarrete Benavides Ruth Mélida Sánchez Mora Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases 3D cell culture Venoms Antineoplastic agents Complementary therapies |
| title | Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review |
| title_full | Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review |
| title_fullStr | Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review |
| title_short | Use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules: 2010-2024 review |
| title_sort | use of spheroids as a model to evaluate the anticancer action of animal venoms and derived molecules 2010 2024 review |
| topic | 3D cell culture Venoms Antineoplastic agents Complementary therapies |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1678-91992025000100202&lng=en&tlng=en |
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