Investigation of the effect of Aegeobuthus gibbosus crude venom on HT-29 colorectal cancer cell epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)

Cancer is a complex disease that arises from the uncontrolled proliferation and growth of cells, shaped by the influence of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor originating from the epithelial tissue of the colon or rectum and is recognized as the third most common type of cancer among all cancer types. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is defined as a critical process in enabling cancer cells to acquire metastatic potential. EMT refers to the transformation of epithelial cells into mesenchymal-like cells, characterized by increased motility and invasiveness. This biological phenomenon is one of the fundamental mechanisms contributing to the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Scorpion venom is a complex mixture of biologically active toxins. These toxins include small peptides and proteins that exhibit selective binding properties to cancer cells. Although these compounds can cause toxicity in humans, their controlled use represents a significant resource for the discovery and development of new and effective drugs. Today, scorpion toxins are being evaluated as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases, particularly cancer. In this study, the effects of crude venom from Aegeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines were investigated. The findings demonstrated that scorpion venom peptides could offer an alternative approach to cancer treatment. Aegeobuthus gibbosus venom was found to exhibit high cytotoxic effects on HT-29 cell lines. This study contributes significantly to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of colorectal cancer.