| Popis: |
Despite significant research advances, breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American women [1]. Thus, new therapeutic modalities are desperately needed with different mechanisms of action from those currently available. The G-protein coupled CXCR4 chemokine receptor and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), the only known endogenous ligand for CXCR4, are overexpressed on the cell surface of both primary breast tumor cells and breast tumor cell lines [2], However, neither CXCR4 nor SDF-1 are expressed in normal breast tissue [3]. By designing and synthesizing a series of small synthetic peptides as potential antagonists at CXCR4 and evaluating their antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cell lines, we are the first research group to evaluate the growth regulating effect of SDF-1 derived peptides on breast cancer cells and explore CXCR4 as a potential drug target for breast cancer. |
