Lizard saliva may help detect rare pancreatic tumor

A molecule in lizard saliva may make it easier to detect pancreatic tumors.

A team of researchers from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, has discovered that the saliva of the silver-toothed lizard (Heloderma suspectum) contains a protein that can detect insulinomas, benign tumors in the pancreas that cause very low blood sugar levels. most threatening human health. Scientists used a modified version of the protein as a radiotracer for PET scans to detect tumors. The results showed that a new scan using a protein from lizard saliva detected 95% of tumors in confirmed cases.

A protein in lizard saliva known as exendin-4 was synthesized in the laboratory and is already being used to treat diabetes. It is able to bind to pancreatic receptors and activate them, stimulating insulin production. To test the new indicator, the researchers recruited 69 people diagnosed with low blood sugar caused by excess insulin. All participants underwent standard tests as well as a new PET scan.

As a result, 53 people were referred for surgery to remove suspected tumors. Of these 53 confirmed cases, tumors were detected in 50 using exendin-4 PET scans, whereas standard PET scans detected only 35 tumors. Exendin-4 also caused fewer side effects in patients compared to previous versions of the radiotracer.