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

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.

Walensky, Loren D et al.·Science (New York·2004·Moderate EvidenceAnimal StudyAnimal Study
RPEP-00992Animal StudyModerate Evidence2004RETHINKTHC RESEARCH DATABASErethinkthc.com/research

Quick Facts

Study Type
Animal Study
Evidence
Moderate Evidence
Sample
Not reported

What This Study 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.

Key Numbers

How They Did This

animal-study study on cyclic-peptides, cancer.

Why This Research Matters

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

The Bigger Picture

Advances peptide therapeutics/biomarker research.

What This Study Doesn't Tell Us

See abstract.

Questions This Raises

  • ?Further research needed.
  • ?Clinical translation to evaluate.

Trust & Context

Key Stat:
Key finding A hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 alpha-helix peptide activated apoptosis in vivo in a mouse leukemia model, producing tumor reduction — the first demonstrati
Evidence Grade:
moderate evidence.
Study Age:
Published in 2004.
Original Title:
Activation of apoptosis in vivo by a hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 helix.
Published In:
Science (New York, N.Y.), 305(5689), 1466-70 (2004)
Database ID:
RPEP-00992

Evidence Hierarchy

Meta-Analysis / Systematic Review
Randomized Controlled Trial
Cohort / Case-Control
Cross-Sectional / Observational
Case Report / Animal StudyOne case or non-human subjects
This study

Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.

What do these levels mean? →

Frequently Asked 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 More on RethinkPeptides

Cite This Study

RPEP-00992·https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-00992

APA

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.

MLA

Walensky, Loren D, et al. "Activation of apoptosis in vivo by a hydrocarbon-stapled BH3 helix.." Science (New York, 2004.

RethinkPeptides

RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Activation of apoptosis in vivo by a hydrocarbon-stapled BH3..." RPEP-00992. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/walensky-2004-activation-of-apoptosis-in

Access the Original Study

Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.