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Study breakdown

Stapled Peptide Helix Activates Cancer Cell Death In Vivo: A Breakthrough in Peptide Drug Design

Animal StudyModerate evidence
The takeaway

A hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 helix peptide activated the apoptotic pathway in live mice, achieving tumor reduction — demonstrating that stapled peptides can work as cancer drugs in vivo for the first time.

Key finding

A hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 alpha-helix peptide activated apoptosis in vivo in a mouse leukemia model, producing tumor reduction — the first demonstrati

What the researchers found

A hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 alpha-helix peptide activated apoptosis in vivo in a mouse leukemia model, producing tumor reduction — the first demonstration that stapled peptide technology achieves in-vivo anticancer efficacy through intracellular target engagement.

Why it matters

Relevant for cyclic-peptides, cancer, peptide-design.

How the study worked

animal-study study on cyclic-peptides, cancer.

What this study cannot tell us

See abstract.

How to read the evidence

moderate evidence.

When this study was published

Published in 2004.

The bigger picture

Advances peptide therapeutics/biomarker research.

Questions still open

  • Further research needed.
  • Clinical translation to evaluate.

Common questions

What was studied?
Stapled Peptide Helix Activates Cancer Cell Death In Vivo: A Breakthrough in Peptide Drug Design
What was found?
A hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 helix peptide activated the apoptotic pathway in live mice, achieving tumor reduction — demonstrating that stapled peptides can work as cancer drugs in vivo for the first time.

Read the original research

Activation of apoptosis in vivo by a hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 helix.

Science (New York, N.Y.), 305(5689), 1466-70

Citation

Walensky, Loren D; Kung, Andrew L; Escher, Iris; Malia, Thomas J; Barbuto, Scott; Wright, Renee D; Wagner, Gerhard; Verdine, Gregory L; Korsmeyer, Stanley J. (2004). Activation of apoptosis in vivo by a hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 helix.. Science (New York, N.Y.), 305(5689), 1466-70.