Scorpion Venom 'Paint' May Combat Brain Tumors

Scorpions don't just have a deadly sting; they may also be contributing to combating cancer. Scientists have developed a type of "tumor paint" made of scorpion venom to fight deadly brain cancer.

The new venom-based paint doesn't cure cancer. However, researchers believe that it can help surgeons more completely eradicate malignant tumors by finding and highlighting all the cancerous cells in a person's body, according to UPI.

When the pain is injected into the human brain, it coats malignant cells with a bright, fluorescent green sheen. It's composed of chlorotoxin, a molecule found in the stinger of a scorpion, and a dye that does the coloring.

The Food and Drug Administration has actually approved the product, developed by Blaze Bioscience, for study in human trials, according to ABC News. During the phase one trial, the tumor paint will be used on about 21 people with a glioma, which is a tumor in the brain or spine.

"The need for improved brain cancer therapy-starting with surgery-is tremendous," said Dennis Miller, senior vice president of development at the biotech company responsible for the new substance, in a press release. "We are starting with glioma, but our ultimate aim is to help patients with many different types of cancer by improving surgeons' ability to achieve more complete surgical resection."

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