Toxins and Their Role as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics

Dear Colleagues,

The initial toxins used to generate immunotoxins, targeted toxins, antibody–toxin conjugates, recombinant fusion proteins, and toxin-loaded nanoparticles were bacterial, plant, and fungal in origin. More recently, toxic compounds produced by insects and venomous animals have been identified that possess properties that are effective against human neoplastic disease. Some of these agents have immunomodulatory effects that activate the immune system, leading to immunogenic cell death in malignant cells while demonstrating anticancer activity. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines were developed that, when combined with immunotherapy, also significantly increase survival in patients with certain types of cancer. By using nanotechnology for toxin packaging, it is possible to reduce administration volumes and concentrations while decreasing potential systemic toxicity without lowering potency, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Those malignant human tumors that are under investigation because of their aggressive behavior include glioblastoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer, among others. Currently, therapeutic results are mainly laboratory-based, with few clinical trials being either designed or conducted. By identifying new cytotoxic compounds that can be administered efficiently through techniques such as nanotechnology, it is our hope to more effectively treat malignant disease while leading to improved patient outcomes. With this Special Issue, review and research articles on animal models, clinical studies, case reports, and off-label indications are all welcome for submission. The goal of this reprint is to provide an updated framework regarding the novel toxins that can be more efficiently delivered using current technology, such as nanoparticles, to treat human cancer while reducing the potential for systemic toxicity.

Prof. Dr. Walter A. Hall
Guest Editor

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