According to a story from the Vancouver Sun, an extremely poisonous mushroom appears to contain some compounds that could be potentially effective in fighting cancer cells. A 2012 study demonstrated that the application of a substance derived from the mushroom was able to cure sixty percent of mice with pancreatic cancer. After this discovery, research into the mushroom and its compounds has continued.
The Death Cap
The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) is a species of mushroom that has gained notoriety since ancient times for its potent lethality; just half of an adult mushroom contains enough toxin to kill a person. It has a broad range, and has been introduced to North America from its original habitat of Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. It resembles some much admired edible species, such as the straw mushroom and Caesar’s mushroom, leading to cases of accidental poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning include rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. These symptoms may resolve in a few days, but in this time period potentially fatal organ damage to the kidneys and liver occurs. Poisoning from this species is a medical emergency.
About Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous cancer types because it rarely causes symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Risk factors include obesity, pancreatitis, smoking, a diet high in processed meats, red meat, or meat cooked at high temperatures, diabetes, and family history. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, diabetes, unexpected weight loss, and upper abdominal pain. Five year survival rate is very low, at just five percent.
Ongoing Research
In the 2012 study, the substance used was the primary toxin from the death cap: alpha-amanitin. The lab at the University of British Columbia is hard at work tinkering with this deadly molecule in order to modify it into a potentially usable medicinal agent. The goal is to change alpha-amanitin so that it is no longer toxic to the liver and is instead more selectively toxic to cancer cells.
Some researchers in Germany are also experimenting with the molecule collected from wild mushrooms, but the team at UBC has synthesized it in their lab, making it easier to access and change. If they are able to modify alpha-amanitin successfully, it could be a valuable new tool for treating pancreatic cancer and other cancer types as well.
