Technology

Early in vitro studies have shown that the EPT-peptide:

  • Suppresses colony formation of cancer cells in soft agar (i.e., suppresses anchorage-independent growth of cancer cells);
  • Inhibits invasion of cancer cells across matri-gel membrane;
  • Induces programmed cell death of cancer cells;
  • Up-regulates the expression of fibronectin 1 and laminin receptor genes in cancer cells;
  • Down-regulates the expression of VEGF, urokinase activator and metalloprotease genes in cancer cells
  • Cancer cells studied are:
  • Breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and ZR-75-1)
  • Colon cancer cells (HT29)
  • Hepatoma cells (HepG2)
  • Leukemia cells
  • Neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-F1)
  • Ovarian cancer cells (SKOV and OVCAR)
  • Protease cancer cells (PC3)
  • Small lung cancer cells (NCI-H526F)

Therefore, EPT-peptide has the following unique anti-tumor activities:

  • Inhibits cancer cell growth, invasion/metastasis and cancer-induced angiogenesis
  • Induces apoptosis in cancer cells but not in non-cancerous cells

Furthermore, EPT-peptide possesses many additional unique properties that makes it an ideal candidate for new cancer therapeutic agent:

  • Targets and kills only cancer cells but is harmless to healthy cells
  • Is produced naturally, which reduces the risk of developing immune rejection upon prolong use
  • Can be reduced to a molecular size suitable for drug-delivery by nanotechnology
  • Is thermally stable
  • Is soluble in biological fluids