Peptides copied from crabs and spiders could one day treat melanoma

Scientists are using molecules found in creepy crawlies to fight untreatable melanoma.

Bacteria-fighting peptides in creatures like the Japanese horseshoe crab and Brazilian tarantula are being copied and tested to see if they can fight cancer cells without impacting healthy cells

Nothing is extracted from the spiders or crabs - the peptides are simply copied and created in a lab.

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"We found they are very potent against melanoma," researcher Sonia Henriques told 9News.

Melanoma is the most serious kind of skin cancer.

According to the Cancer Council, one in 17 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 85.

And in some cases, skin cancer cells can change to withstand the therapy a patient is undergoing.

However, researchers believe there is no way for the cancer to build defences to these peptides.

A new treatment could still be years away with more testing and clinical trials to be conducted.