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. 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.