PurePep® Blog

Bifunctional peptide targets CXCR4 drug-resistant cancer stem cells to fight resistance to conventional chemotherapy

Ovarian cancer (OVC) patients often acquire resistance to cytotoxic drugs such as cisplatin, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel within a year, leading to a disease recurrence rate of up to 80%. Hyun Hee Lee and colleagues at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA have used a peptide to target the G-protein coupled receptor 4 (CXCR4) that plays a significant role in promoting tumorigenesis and drug resistance. The research team has shown that targeting a CXCR4High cancer stem cell population with a selective peptide resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect when combined with chemotherapy agents such as doxorubicin and cisplatin. This is a promising approach in fighting drug resistance and improving treatment outcomes.

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