A novel self-assemble peptide drug design of AKT1 for anaplastic thyroid cancer therapy

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: Genetic roles, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) stands as the most formidable form of thyroid malignancy, presenting a persistent challenge in clinical management. Recent years have witnessed a gradual unveiling of the intricate genetic underpinnings governing ATC through next-generation sequencing. The emergence of this genetic landscape has paved the way for the exploration of targeted therapies and immunotherapies in clinical trials. Despite these strides, the precise mechanisms governing ATC pathogenesis and the identification of efficacious treatments demand further investigation. Our comprehensive review stems from an extensive literature search focusing on the genetic implications, notably the pivotal MAPK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathways, along with targeted therapies and immunotherapies in ATC. Moreover, we screen and summarize the advances and challenges in the current diagnostic approaches for ATC, including the invasive tissue sampling represented by fine needle aspiration and core needle biopsy, immunohistochemistry, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography. We also investigate enormous studies on the prognosis of ATC and outline independent prognostic factors for future clinical assessment and therapy for ATC. By synthesizing this literature, we aim to encapsulate the evolving landscape of ATC oncology, potentially shedding light on novel pathogenic mechanisms and avenues for therapeutic exploration.

CAVPENET Peptide Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cells Proliferation and Migration through PP1γ-Dependent Inhibition of AKT Signaling

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) complexes have emerged as promising targets for anticancer therapies. The ability of peptides to mimic PP1-docking motifs, and so modulate interactions with regulatory factors, has enabled the creation of highly selective modulators of PP1-dependent cellular processes that promote tumor growth. The major objective of this study was to develop a novel bioactive cell-penetrating peptide (bioportide), which, by mimicking the PP1-binding motif of caveolin-1 (CAV1), would regulate PP1 activity, to hinder prostate cancer (PCa) progression. The designed bioportide, herein designated CAVPENET, and a scrambled homologue, were synthesized using microwave-assisted solid-phase methodologies and evaluated using PCa cell lines. Our findings indicate that CAVPENET successfully entered PCa cells to influence both viability and migration. This tumor suppressor activity of CAVPENET was attributed to inhibition of AKT signaling, a consequence of increased PP1γ activity. This led to the suppression of glycolytic metabolism and alteration in lipid metabolism, collectively representing the primary mechanism responsible for the anticancer properties of CAVPENET. Our results underscore the potential of the designed peptide as a novel therapy for PCa patients, setting the stage for further testing in more advanced models to fully realize its therapeutic promise.

Mechanism of Peptide Self-assembly and Its Study in Biomedicine

The development of peptide-based materials is one of the most challenging aspects of biomaterials research in recent years. The assembly of peptides is mainly controlled by forces such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic interaction, and π-π accumulation. Peptides have unique advantages such as simple structure, easy synthesis, good biocompatibility, non-toxicity, easy modification, etc. These factors make peptides turn into ideal biomedical materials, and they have a broad application prospect in biomedical materials, and thus have received wide attention. In this review, the mechanism and classification of peptide self-assembly and its applications in biomedicine and hydrogels were introduced.

Peptide Assemblies for Cancer Therapy

Supramolecular assemblies made by the self-assembly of peptides are finding an increasing number of applications in various fields. While the early exploration of peptide assemblies centered on tissue engineering or regenerative medicine, the recent development has shown that peptide assemblies can act as supramolecular medicine for cancer therapy. This review covers the progress of applying peptide assemblies for cancer therapy, with the emphasis on the works appeared over the last five years. We start with the introduction of a few seminal works on peptide assemblies, then discuss the combination of peptide assemblies with anticancer drugs. Next, we highlight the use of enzyme-controlled transformation or shapeshifting of peptide assemblies for inhibiting cancer cells and tumors. After that, we provide the outlook for this exciting field that promises new kind of therapeutics for cancer therapy.