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Published on: October 27, 2020
Investigation of Fibroblast Growth Factor Peptide Antagonist on Mouse Model Breast Tumor through ERK/MAPK and
Shahrzad Ghadirian1, Alireza Tabibzadeh2, Hamid Rezvani3
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
In the majority of cancers, metastasis of tumor cells is the main cause of treatment failure. This study intended to investigate the effectiveness of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) peptide designed to inhibit tumor growth in 4T1 metastatic breast cancer through the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK signal transduction pathways.
Methods:
The tumor was induced through 4T1 tumor graft in BALB/c mice. The designed peptide was injected intraperitoneal at three selected doses after two weeks for 14 days. The PBS and doxorubicin were used as the negative and positive control groups, respectively. Tumor size was measured and after the treatment period, the mice underwent a surgery and tumors were used for the western blot examinations.
Results:
the peptide injection was effective in reducing or inhibiting tumor growth in mice model and in vitro. The western blot analysis results showed that the p-AKT and p-ERK levels in peptide treated tumors were reduced (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
The peptide injection was effective in mice model. Findings showed that in the two signal transduction pathways, the p-AKT and p-ERK levels were significantly different from the negative control group.
Insights
A novel peptide targeting basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) effectively inhibited 4T1 metastatic breast cancer growth in mice. The peptide reduced key signaling proteins in the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK pathways, offering a potential new cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Metastasis is a primary cause of cancer treatment failure.
- Investigating novel therapeutic strategies for metastatic breast cancer is crucial.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays a role in tumor progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a designed bFGF peptide in inhibiting 4T1 metastatic breast cancer.
- To elucidate the impact of the peptide on PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- 4T1 tumor graft model established in BALB/c mice.
- Intraperitoneal administration of the designed peptide at three doses.
- Tumor growth assessment, western blot analysis of signaling pathway proteins (p-AKT, p-ERK).
Main Results:
- Peptide treatment significantly reduced or inhibited tumor growth in vivo and in vitro.
- Western blot analysis revealed decreased levels of phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) in peptide-treated tumors.
- Significant differences in p-AKT and p-ERK levels were observed compared to the negative control group.
Conclusions:
- The designed bFGF peptide demonstrates significant anti-tumor efficacy in a 4T1 metastatic breast cancer mouse model.
- The peptide's mechanism involves the modulation of PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways.
- This study supports the potential of peptide-based therapies targeting growth factor signaling in metastatic breast cancer.
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