Peptide-based anti-cancer therapeutics

[2019 Spring Life Sciences & IBB Seminar]

▶Subject: Peptide-based anti-cancer therapeutics
 

▶Speaker: Prof. Byungheon Lee  (Kyungpook National University)
 

▶Date: 4:30PM/May. 24(Fri.)/2019

▶Place: Auditorium(1F), Postech Biotech Center

​▶Abctract
A growing body of evidence shows that pathological lesions put novel molecular signatures on their tissues and vasculatures. We have identified peptide probes that recognize and target such molecular signatures by screening phage displayed-peptide library. IL4RPep-1, an interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R)-binding peptide, preferentially bound to IL4R-expressing tumor cells and M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) both in vitro and in 4T1 breast tumors in vivo. To selectively kill IL4R-expressing cells, we designed an IL4R-targeted pro-apoptotic peptide, IL4RPep-1-K, by adding the pro-apoptotic peptide (KLAKLAK)2 to the end of IL4RPep-1. IL4RPep-1-K exerted selective cytotoxicity against diverse IL4R-expressing tumor cells and M2-polarized macrophages. Systemic administration of IL4RPep-1-K inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice. Interestingly, IL4RPep-1-K treatment increased the number of activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells while reducing the numbers of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and M2-polarized TAMs. As another example, PD-L1-binding peptides, PD-L1Pep-1 and PD-L1Pep-2, bind to the PD-L1 immune checkpoint with a high affinity, which blocks PD-L1/PD-1 interaction and reactivates T cell activity against tumor cells. Systemic administration of PD-L1-binding peptides inhibited CT26 mouse colon tumor growth. Taken together, molecular signature-targeted peptides will be a useful tool for targeted therapy against cancer.

▶Inquiry: Prof. You Jeong Lee (279-2359)

 * This seminar will be given in English.
  Please refrain from taking photos during seminars. *