Scorpio fuscus venom as a promising anticancer agent against colorectal cancer

Sep 23, 2026

Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and conventional treatments often bring substantial adverse effects while failing against multidrug-resistant disease. This study evaluates the anticancer activity of Scorpio fuscus venom (SFV) using integrated in vitro and in vivo models. SFV constituents were characterized by gel electrophoresis, HPLC, and UV-visible spectrometry, then screened via structural modeling and in silico docking against colorectal cancer and apoptosis-related targets. SFV reduced CRC cell viability dose-dependently and impaired migration and colony formation, with apoptosis modulation supported by flow cytometry and gene expression. Xenograft models showed reduced tumor growth and altered tumor marker expression, with ≥2-fold gene expression changes across 51 genes, supporting SFV as a candidate anticancer agent.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

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Summary

Introduction

Investigational New Drugs (2026) 44:23–38 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10637-026-01598-z](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10637-026-01598-z) Scorpio fuscus venom as a promising anticancer agent against colorectal cancer Serdar Karakurt1,2 · Cigdem Gokcek‑Sarac3 · Sinan Kandir4 · Irem Mukaddes Bilgiseven1 · Ersen AydınYagmur5 · Hasan Ufuk Celebioglu6 Received: 13 November 2025 / Accepted: 1 January 2026 / Published online: 2 February 2026 © The Author(s) 2026 Summary Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for novel and effective therapeutic agents. Conventional treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, are often associated with significant adverse effects, prompting the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of Scorpio fuscus venom (SFV) on human colorectal cancer models using integrated in vitro and in vivo approaches. SFV constituents were characterized using gel electrophoresis, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography and UV–visible spectrometry. Identified peptides were subjected to structural modeling and in silico docking analyses against selected proteins associated with colorectal cancer and apoptosis-related pathways. The cytotoxic effects of SFV were assessed in human CRC cell lines (DLD-1, HT-29, and CaCo-2) and a healthy colon epithelial cell line (CCD-18Co) using Alamar Blue assays after 48-h treatment, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values were determined. SFV treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in cancer cell viability, accompanied by decreased migratory capacity and colony formation ability. Apoptotic responses were further evaluated by flow cytometry and gene expression analyses, indicating modulation of apoptosis-associated genes. For in vivo validation, subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft colon cancer models were established in mice. SFV administration led to reduced tumor growth compared with control groups. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed altered expression patterns of selected tumor-related markers in SFV-treated tumors. Gene expression profiling demonstrated ≥ twofold changes in 51 genes, including downregulation of BAK1 and TRAF3, and upregulation of BIRC2, BIRC3, BIRC6, CASP8, TNFRSF8, TNFRSF11, and BOK. Collectively, these findings indicate that SFV exerts significant antitumor effects in colorectal cancer models and support its potential asa promising anticancer agent, warranting further mechanistic and translational investigation. Keywords Scorpio fuscus · Venom · Colorectal carcinoma · In vivo · Molecular mechanism · Signaling pathways * Serdar Karakurt [karakurt@selcuk.edu.tr](karakurt@selcuk.edu.tr); [kserdar1@yahoo.com](kserdar1@yahoo.com) 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, Konya, Türkiye 2 Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, BioMediTech Institute, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland 3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye 4 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Türkiye 5 Alasehir Vocational High School, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Türkiye 6 Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Bartin University, Bartin, Türkiye Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second most lethal form of cancer [1] . According to Sawicki et al. (2021), the incidence of colon and rectal cancer is expected to increase by 71.5% and 60.0%, respectively, by 2035 [2] . Surgical excision is the primary treatment for resectable CRC, while chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are the standard treatments for unresectable CRC. Nevertheless, these therapies have certain disadvantages, including high cytotoxicity and lack of specificity, which can result in secondary com

FAQs

What is the main goal of the study on Scorpio fuscus venom?

To evaluate the anticancer effects of Scorpio fuscus venom (SFV) against human colorectal cancer models using both in vitro and in vivo approaches.

How were SFV constituents identified and assessed for anticancer relevance?

Constituents were characterized using gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and UV–visible spectrometry, followed by structural modeling and in silico docking against colorectal cancer and apoptosis-related proteins.

What evidence supports SFV’s anticancer effect in colorectal cancer models?

SFV treatment decreased colorectal cancer cell viability, migration, and colony formation in cultured cell lines, induced apoptosis-related changes, and reduced tumor growth in subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft mouse models, alongside altered tumor marker and gene expression patterns.

Sep 23, 2026

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