Novel Peptide Shows Promise in overcoming Ovarian cancer Drug Resistance
[CITY, STATE] – researchers have identified a small peptide, Tβ4-17, derived from thymosin β4, that substantially enhances the effectiveness of cisplatin (DDP) – a common chemotherapy drug – in ovarian cancer cells resistant to treatment. the study, utilizing ITRAQ technology for peptide selection, reveals that Tβ4-17 combats drug resistance by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of gynecological cancer deaths, largely due to the growth of chemoresistance, which drives recurrence and metastasis. This research addresses this critical challenge by demonstrating that combining Tβ4-17 with DDP effectively inhibits the proliferation and migration of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells, while simultaneously promoting apoptosis – programmed cell death.
Investigations using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed elevated levels of NF-κB expression in DDP-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Further experimentation, employing both NF-κB inhibitors and activators, showed that Tβ4-17 specifically downregulates the expression of the NF-κB p65 protein. This downregulation correlated with reduced cell proliferation and migration, as evidenced by Western blot, CCK8 assays, EDU fluorescence proliferation assays, and cell scratch assays.
These findings indicate that Tβ4-17 represents a potential therapeutic strategy to restore chemo-sensitivity in ovarian cancer, offering a promising avenue for improving treatment outcomes. The study conclusively demonstrates that Tβ4-17 enhances the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to DDP by downregulating NF-κB expression.
Keywords: DDP; NF-κB; Ovarian cancer; Peptides; Tβ4-17.
