Study summary · research use only
Molecular Targeting of H/MDM-2 Oncoprotein in Human Colon Cancer Cells and Stem-like Colonic Epithelial-derived Progenitor Cells
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this study using six human colon cancer cell lines and one normal cell line (CCD-18Co) (in vivo species not specified), the authors tested whether the peptide PNC-27, which binds cancer cell membrane HDM-2, affects CD44+ colon cancer stem cells. Flow cytometry measured CD44 and HDM-2 expression, and MTT, LDH release, annexin V binding, and caspase 3 assays assessed PNC-27-induced cell death; bioluminescence imaging measured effects on tumor growth in vivo. The authors report that high percentages of cells across all six tumor lines expressed CD44, that PNC-27 co-localized with membrane HDM-2 only in cancer cells and caused total cell death including tumor cell necrosis, and that in vivo PNC-27 caused necrosis of tumor nodules but not of normal tissue.
Abstract
We have tested whether the anticancer peptide, PNC-27, that kills cancer cells but not normal cells by binding to cancer cell membrane HDM-2 forming pores, kills CD44+ colon cancer stem cells. Flow cytometry determined the CD44 and HDM-2 expression on six-colon cancer cell lines and one normal cell line (CCD-18Co). MTT, LDH release, annexin V binding and caspase 3 assays were used to assess PNC-27-induced cell death. Bioluminescence imaging measured PNC-27 effects on in vivo tumor growth. High percentages of cells in all six tumor lines expressed CD44. PNC-27 co-localized with membrane HDM-2 only in the cancer cells and caused total cell death (tumor cell necrosis, high LDH release, negative annexin V and caspase 3). In vivo, PNC-27 caused necrosis of tumor nodules but not of normal tissue. PNC-27 selectively kills colon cancer stem cells by binding of this peptide to membrane H/MDM-2.
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