The "Lifegiver" Scorpion

Deathstalker scorpion (Image from nyp.org)

Pediatric oncologist Jim Olson may have a solution to "one of the most vexing problems in oncology: the fact that a tumor’s precise boundaries are nearly impossible to define during surgery."

His answer is chlorotoxin, a molecule that is found in the deathstalker scorpion and binds only to cancer cells, not healthy ones. Attaching a special dye to the chlorotoxin causes tumors to glow under infrared light; "Tumor Paint" greatly increases the probability that surgeons can detect and remove the entire cancer during surgery.

You know, a tumor doesn’t have a big sign that says ‘Here I Am,’” says Steven Rosenfeld, director of the Brain Tumor Research Center of Excellence at the Cleveland Clinic. “An MRI can be helpful, but it doesn’t identify all of the microscopic deposits and nests where the tumor occurs.” Neurosurgeries are particularly tricky because the brain has a gelatinous consistency—surgeons compare it to a wobbly slab of Jell-O. Poking and prodding an exposed brain with sharp instruments alters its shape, thereby rendering MRI images useless as guides.

Dr. Olson's idea was rejected by large funding organizations, but he was able to pursue his research ($100,000 buys less than a gram of chlorotoxin) through donations from grateful families. He raised $5 million for the initial phase, then $20 million after experiments showed success. Human clinical trials began last December.

The War on Cancer began 42 years ago. Jim Olson's campaign is one of many battles that still have to be won but is another sign that ultimate victory may be achievable during our lifetime.