The effect of a lectin from the venom of the snake, Bothrops jararacussu, on tumor cell proliferation

Lectins have been used extensively as histochemical probes to describe chan ges in tumor cell surface and nle known to influence the growth of cancer c ells. in this study, we determined the effect of a lectin from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu (BJcuL) on the proliferation of a number of establish ed human cancer cell lines. The growth of eight cancer cell lines was inhib ited in a dose-related manner in the presence of BJcuL lectin. This lectin was most potent as an inhibitor of growth in renal (Caki-1 and A-498) and p ancreatic (CFPAC-1) cancer cell lines with 50% inhibitory concentrations (I C50) of 1-2 mM. Melanoma (Wm115) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cells showed IC 50 values of 7.9 and 8.5 mM, respectively, in the presence of BjcuL lectin whereas colon (Caco-2) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines showed no effect . Our results suggest that BJcuL lectin is an effective inhibitor of cell g rowth in some cancel cell lines.