Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen
19:44

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

Published on: May 30, 2012

Selective apoptotic killing of solid and hematologic tumor cells by bombesin-targeted delivery of

Huawei Cai1, Hao Yang, Bin Xiang

  • 1Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, and Department of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China.

Molecular Pharmaceutics
|February 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Bombesin-targeted toxic peptides show enhanced cancer cell killing. These novel peptides, BB27 and BB28, effectively target solid tumors and leukemia cells, offering a promising new therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Delivery

Background:

  • Tumor-homing peptides facilitate targeted delivery of therapeutics.
  • Bombesin analogues are effective for targeting various solid tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate bombesin-targeted delivery of toxic peptides to solid tumor and leukemia cells.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bombesin-conjugated peptides for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Conjugation of bombesin to mitochondria-disrupting peptides (KLA, B27, B28) to create BB27 and BB28.
  • Assessment of binding affinity, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis induction in cancer cell lines and primary leukemia cells.
  • Evaluation of in vivo efficacy and toxicity in tumor xenograft models.

Main Results:

  • Bombesin demonstrated specific binding to solid tumor and leukemia cells.
  • Bombesin conjugation significantly enhanced peptide cytotoxicity (5-15 fold) by improving binding affinity.
  • BB27 and BB28 selectively induced apoptosis in cancer cells with lower IC50 values compared to normal cells.
  • BB27 and BB28 showed cytotoxicity in primary acute myeloid leukemia cells and inhibited tumor xenograft growth without systemic toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Bombesin-directed mitochondria-disrupting peptides (BB27, BB28) are effective against solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
  • These peptides offer a potential therapeutic strategy for both solid and blood cancers.
  • The targeted approach minimizes toxicity, suggesting clinical applicability.

More Related Videos

Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics12:28

Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics

Published on: January 11, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...