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Effect of Bee Venom on Colchicine-induced Tumours

Nature volume 166, pages 567–568 (1950)Cite this article

Abstract

I HAVE shown that colchicine can act both as an oncogenic1 and oncolytic2 agent when administered to plants. Analogous effects were reported in animals by Harde3 and by me4 as regards the oncogenic influence of the drug, while Dustin5 and his school have demonstrated encouraging carcinolytic effects. The nuclear anomalies6, the stathmokinetic7, polyploidizing6,8 and mutagenie4,9 as well as hormonal4,10 responses induced by the alkaloid are equally well known. The narrow margin between its healing and toxic effects11, however, including the risk of its oncogenic action, continues to be a serious obstacle to the application of the drug in human cancer therapy.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. LÁSZLO J. HAVAS: Formerly at the Hungarian Biological Research Institute, Tihany

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  1. Clinique Solisana, Guebwiller, Haut Rhin, France

    LÁSZLO J. HAVAS

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  1. LÁSZLO J. HAVAS
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HAVAS, L. Effect of Bee Venom on Colchicine-induced Tumours. Nature 166, 567–568 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166567a0

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