Anticancer peptides mechanisms, simple and complex.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Oncology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Peptide therapy, initiated in the 1920s with insulin, has evolved into a significant approach for treating diseases, including cancer.
• Traditional cancer treatments often involve severe adverse effects, drug resistance, and multidrug resistance (MDR), necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
• Anti-cancer peptides (ACPs) are emerging as a promising cancer therapy due to their favorable characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics of peptides and cancer cells.
• To discuss the mechanisms of action of peptides against cancer cells.
• To explore peptide design, applications, and future prospects in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on peptide therapy for cancer.
• Analysis of peptide properties, including size, activity, immunogenicity, biocompatibility, and synthesis.
• Examination of mechanisms by which bioactive peptides interact with cancer cells, such as pore formation and induction of apoptosis.

Main Results:

• Peptides offer advantages over traditional therapies, including smaller size, high activity, low immunogenicity, good in vivo biocompatibility, and ease of modification.
• Bioactive peptides can induce cancer cell death by forming pores in cell membranes, leading to necrosis or apoptosis.
• Targeted peptide design focuses on tumor recognition and selective permeation into cancer cells with minimal cytotoxicity to normal cells.

Conclusions:

• Peptide-based cancer therapy presents a viable and advantageous alternative to conventional treatments.
• Further research into peptide design, targeting strategies, and pharmacokinetic profiles will enhance their efficacy in cancer treatment.
• The development of novel anti-cancer peptides holds significant potential for future cancer therapeutics.