Methods and compositions related to therapeutic peptides for cancer therapy

Abstract

Embodiments of the current invention provide a solution to the problems associated with balancing patient toxicity with broad efficacy of cancer therapy. In particular, embodiments are directed to anti-cancer peptides that demonstrate a broad anti-cancer efficacy with a limited toxicity to normal or non-cancer cells.

Description

Abstract Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions to the problem of balancing patient toxicity with broad efficacy in cancer therapy. In particular, embodiments relate to anticancer peptides that exhibit broad anticancer efficacy with limited toxicity to normal or non-cancerous cells.

Claims

1. An isolated peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence that is 90 to 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5.

2. The peptide according to claim 1, wherein the peptide is capable of inducing apoptosis in a cancer cell when contacted with said cancer cell, preferably wherein the cancer is bladder, blood, bone, bone marrow, brain / nervous system, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastrointestinal, head, kidney, liver, lung, nasopharynx, neck, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, skin, stomach, testicular, tongue, or uterine cancer.

3. A composition comprising the peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 and: i. a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent; ii. a carrier; iii. a solubilizer; iv. an emulsifier; and / or v. a preservative.

4. A peptide according to claim 1 or claim 2, or an expression vector or expression cassette encoding the peptide, or a composition according to claim 3, for use in a method for treating cancer, wherein the method comprises administering an effective amount of the therapeutic composition to a subject having cancer.

5. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 4, wherein the peptide or composition is administered by injection.

6. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 4, wherein the peptide or composition is administered intratumorally.

7. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 4, wherein the cancer is a bladder, blood, bone, bone marrow, brain / nervous system, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastrointestinal, head, kidney, liver, lung, nasopharynx, neck, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, skin, stomach, testicular, tongue, or uterine cancer.

8. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 4, wherein a peptide is present at a dose of 0.001 mg / kg and 10 mg / kg body weight, preferably between at least, or at most 0.1 and 5 mg / kg body weight, most preferably between 0.5 and 1 mg / kg body weight.

9. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 4, further comprising administering a second anti-cancer therapy.

10. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 9, wherein the second anticancer therapy is a chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or anti-hormonal therapy.

11. The peptide or composition for use according to claim 9, wherein the second anti-cancer therapy is an ELANE protease.

12. A method for inducing apoptosis in a cancer cell comprising contacting the cancer cell with an effective amount of one or more peptides according to claim 1 or claim 2, or with the composition according to claim 3, wherein the method is not an in vivo method.

13. The expression vector or expression cassette for use according to claim 4, which is a viral vector.

14. The expression vector expression cassette for use according to claim 13, wherein the viral vector is a lentivirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, herpes virus, vaccinia virus, or polio virus.

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