Enhanced antitumor effects of the BRBP1 compound peptide BRBP1-TAT-KLA on human brain metastatic breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2015 Jan 26:5:8029. doi: 10.1038/srep08029.

Abstract

Novel molecularly targeted agents that block the development and metastasis of human brain metastatic breast cancer hold great promise for their translational value. In this study, we constructed a novel targeting composite peptide BRBP1-TAT-KLA comprising of three elements: a brain metastatic breast carcinoma cell (231-BR)-binding peptide BRBP1, a cell penetrating peptide TAT, and a proapoptotic peptide KLA. This composite peptide efficiently internalized in 231-BR cells and consequently induced mitochondrial damage and cellular apoptosis. Exposure of 231-BR cells to BRBP1-TAT-KLA significantly decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis compared with the cells treated with the control peptides. In vivo relevance of these findings was further corroborated in the 231-BR tumor-bearing mice that demonstrated significantly delayed tumor development and metastasis following administration of BRBP1-TAT-KLA compared with those treated with TAT-KLA alone. Interestingly, BRBP1-TAT-KLA inhibited the formation of both large and micro-metastases, while TAT-KLA alone failed to significantly reduce micro-metastases in the breast cancer brain metastasis mice. BRBP1-TAT-KLA selectively homed to the tumors in vivo where it induced cellular apoptosis without significant toxicity on non-tumor tissues. Our findings therefore demonstrated the enhanced antitumor effects of the BRBP1 compound peptide BRBP1-TAT-KLA, providing insights toward development of a potential therapeutic strategy for brain metastatic breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Products, tat / administration & dosage
  • Gene Products, tat / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mice
  • Oligopeptides / genetics*
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage*
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Peptides / genetics*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • BRBP1 peptide
  • Gene Products, tat
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • KLA peptide
  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides