In a perfect world, we would have eradicated cancer by now. I wish this were so, as even in my small, personal community, two women have been diagnosed with cancer just this past month—one in her 20s with primary B-cell lymphoma, and one in her 50s with endometrial cancer. Many lives are turned upside down by these diagnoses. Sadly, my list of family and friends who suffer from this debilitating disease could go on. I am certain, this is the case for many of us.
Therefore, it is crucial for everyone to take preventative measures, including a healthy lifestyle, well-balanced nutrition, physical activity, positive relationships, adequate rest, and spiritual exercises for the soul.
However, often such measures do not suffice, and despite all efforts the disease may already be present or on its way. Should it befall us, we may find options outside the box of conventional treatment and look to natural alternatives, seek conventional treatment, or employ a combination of both.
7 Decades of Research
The first report about ricin’s “necrosing or clastic” effects on sarcomas, a type of cancer that befalls different locations in the body, was published in a French journal in 1951.
A Plant-Cytotoxin Spreads Seeds of Hope
Ricin, a protein that binds to carbohydrates, is the toxic byproduct from the castor bean accruing during castor oil production. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ricin has been used in “experimental” research for anti-cancer medicine.Target Cancer Therapy
The limiting factors of this therapy seem to lie in its variable components. Immunoconjugates are comprised of three separate parts, as outlined in the Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology:- “An antibody that binds to a cancer cell antigen with high specificity
- An effector molecule that has a high capacity to kill the cancer cell
- A linker that will ensure the effector does not separate from the antibody during transit and will reliably release the effector to the cancer cell or tumor stroma.”
Ricin–A Therapeutic Agent and ‘Magic Bullet’
In cancer treatment, there are several types of therapeutic entities —pharmaceutical drugs, radioisotopes (elements that release radiation during their break-down processes), and natural toxins such as Shiga toxin (a bacterial toxin) or the castor bean’s ricin. For any of them to work the transport mechanisms of the medication to its target location must be ensured.The poison displays the ability to induce a form of “programmed apoptosis,” or “programmed cell death,” in cancer cells, which otherwise often block this progression.
According to the review, newly developed nanotechnology could be critical for further development of this ricin-based anti-cancer technique.
Application of Ricin in Various Cancer Treatments
Like other plants, Ricinus communi’s plant tissue contains lectins, some of which are potent toxins. They work as part of the plant’s natural defense mechanism against herbivores and phytophagous insects.Lymphoma
Ricin’s potent activity as an immunotoxin—specifically against Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells—was detected in animal models and in vitro. A clinical trial in humans followed previous in-depth research and indicated “moderate efficacy in heavily pretreated refractory patients.” Results were published in the European journal Annals of Oncology.Fifty-seven percent experienced a “complete response” to the therapy—though only three patients achieved that result through the application of the immunotoxin. Nevertheless, researchers seem pleased with the outcome of the trial, as “remissions appear quite durable (> 4 years) in about 40% of the complete responders.”
Tests showed that this purging of “bone marrow in high-risk T-cell malignancies” resulted in a complete formation of blood cellular components (hematopoiesis) and a delayed reconstruction of the immune system.
Breast Cancer
The European Journal of Pharmacology featured a 2023 study, in which in-vitro evaluations assessed biological activities and the efficacy of recombinant proteins, such as the ricin toxin A chain (RTA).The novel immunotoxin demonstrated significant anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects against cancer cells—both effects determine the rate of cell death by apoptosis. The MTT cytotoxicity assay—a tool to measure cell viability—revealed that cancer cell lines were less capable of survival after treatment.
Melanoma and Other Cancers
Melanoma cancer cells also respond favorably to ricin as a therapeutic agent. This was indicated by an in-vitro study that displayed the plant toxin’s strong poisonous qualities. The tumor colonies, which were formed in soft agar, greatly diminished in size during this treatment with a low dose of purified total ricin.The application increased apoptosis as well, thus the researchers conclude that ricin “has potential to be used as a drug for melanoma treatment”—all, in addition to its high ranking on the natural toxins list.
Researchers encapsulated ricin with a liposome. The ricin-liposome complex was engulfed by tested cancer cells. This process limited the cells’ capability to migrate and decreased their invasion potential, as well as their ability to form tumors. Hence, the formulations were seen as “great anticancer properties [in] melanoma and other cancers.”
Ricin in General Immunotoxin Therapy
Ricin toxin comes in two subunits: ricin toxin A (RTA) and ricin toxin B (RTB). The two function differently, with either a polypeptide chain A or a polypeptide chain B. “RTB attaches onto the cell surface, while RTA enters the cell, attaching to ribosome and inhibiting protein synthesis,” explains a review.Immunogenicity as a Possible Side-Effect
Our body naturally reacts to and fights off any proteins that enter its systems. So too, does the body answer with an immune response when immunotoxin therapy is administered. This reaction is called immunogenicity and might provoke undesired drawbacks to the treatment itself.On one hand, the induced toxic protein may lose its power. On the other hand, repeated injections might provoke an even stronger response of the immune system, making doctors hesitant to multiple applications.
Limitations in Personal Treatment
At first sight, the use of ricin in cancer treatment might seem like a promising strategy. However, there are cons.Furthermore, the compound needs purification and isolation directly from the bean to be studied correctly and applied medicinally.
Ricin Toxin as Warfare Agent
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highly potent compound ricin is water-soluble, without a taste or smell, stable in an ambient environment, and not affected much by heat or extreme cold. As such, it can be used as a powder, a breathable mist, in the form of a pellet, or be served in a drink with lethal results—for which there are no available antidotes.Conditional to the route of contact, first symptoms can come immediately and worsen progressively over the following 4–36 hours. Death may occur within 36–72 hours of contact, depending on the significance of the exposure.
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