The ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’ Toxin from Tutankhamun’s Tomb Becomes a Cancer Treatment

In a groundbreaking discovery led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the deadly Aspergillus flavus fungus, associated with the ‘Curse of the Pharaohs,’ has been transformed into a powerful compound that combats cancer. Since archaeologists opened King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the 1920s, mysterious deaths among the excavation team fueled legends of a curse. Decades later, doctors suggested dormant fungal spores might have played a role. Fast forward to today, this same fungus is now the source of a promising new cancer treatment. In the 1970s, twelve scientists entered the tomb of Kazimierz IV in Poland; within weeks, ten died. Later research revealed the tomb contained Aspergillus flavus, whose toxins can cause lung infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Now, this fungus is yielding a category of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). While thousands of RiPPs have been found in bacteria, only a few have been discovered in fungi. Researchers studied twelve Aspergillus species, identifying Aspergillus flavus as particularly promising. After isolating four different RiPPs, they found these molecules shared a unique structure of interlocking rings. Named after the fungus they were found in—asperigillins—even without modification, these compounds showed medical potential when mixed with human cancer cells. Two of the four variations strongly affected leukemia cells. Another variation, enhanced with a lipid molecule found in royal jelly, performed as well as FDA-approved drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin used for decades in leukemia treatment. Further experiments suggest asperigillins disrupt cell division processes with minimal impact on breast, liver, or lung cancer cells, indicating specific effects on certain cell types—a crucial feature for any future drug development. Researchers also identified similar gene clusters in other fungi, hinting at more undiscovered fungal RiPPs. The next step is testing asperigillins in animal models, hoping to eventually proceed to clinical trials in humans.