Recent advances and applications of peptide-agent conjugates for targeting tumor cells
Vahab Alamdari-Palangi1, Khojaste Rahimi Jaberi2, Mahshid Shahverdi3
1Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, 7133654361, Iran.
Background:
Cancer, being a complex disease, presents a major challenge for the scientific and medical communities. Peptide therapeutics have played a significant role in different medical practices, including cancer treatment.
Method:
This review provides an overview of the current situation and potential development prospects of anticancer peptides (ACPs), with a particular focus on peptide vaccines and peptide-drug conjugates for cancer treatment.
Results:
ACPs can be used directly as cytotoxic agents (molecularly targeted peptides) or can act as carriers (guiding missile) of chemotherapeutic agents and radionuclides by specifically targeting cancer cells. More than 60 natural and synthetic cationic peptides are approved in the USA and other major markets for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Compared to traditional cancer treatments, peptides exhibit anticancer activity with high specificity and the ability to rapidly kill target cancer cells. ACP's target and kill cancer cells via different mechanisms, including membrane disruption, pore formation, induction of apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and regulation of the immune system. Modified peptides have been developed as carriers for drugs, vaccines, and peptide-drug conjugates, which have been evaluated in various phases of clinical trials for the treatment of different types of solid and leukemia cancer.
Conclusions:
This review highlights the potential of ACPs as a promising therapeutic option for cancer treatment, particularly through the use of peptide vaccines and peptide-drug conjugates. Despite the limitations of peptides, such as poor metabolic stability and low bioavailability, modified peptides show promise in addressing these challenges. Various mechanism of action of anticancer peptides. Modes of action against cancer cells including: inducing apoptosis by cytochrome c release, direct cell membrane lysis (necrosis), inhibiting angiogenesis, inducing autophagy-mediated cell death and immune cell regulation.
Insights
Anticancer peptides (ACPs) offer targeted cancer treatment with high specificity and rapid cell killing. Modified peptides, including vaccines and drug conjugates, show promise in overcoming limitations and advancing cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cancer remains a significant challenge for medical and scientific communities.
- Peptide therapeutics are increasingly utilized in various medical applications, including cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status and future potential of anticancer peptides (ACPs) in cancer therapy.
- To focus on the development of peptide vaccines and peptide-drug conjugates for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on anticancer peptides.
- Analysis of current clinical trial data for peptide-based cancer therapies.
- Examination of mechanisms of action for ACPs.
Main Results:
- Over 60 natural and synthetic cationic peptides are approved for treating cancer and other diseases.
- ACPs function as direct cytotoxic agents or carriers for chemotherapy and radionuclides, targeting cancer cells specifically.
- ACPs induce cancer cell death through mechanisms like membrane disruption, apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and immune system regulation.
Conclusions:
- Anticancer peptides represent a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, especially peptide vaccines and peptide-drug conjugates.
- Modified peptides demonstrate potential to overcome limitations such as poor metabolic stability and low bioavailability.
- ACPs exhibit diverse mechanisms against cancer cells, including apoptosis induction, direct cell lysis, anti-angiogenesis, autophagy-mediated cell death, and immune modulation.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy