Bradykinin-Potentiating Peptide-Paclitaxel Conjugate Directed at Ectopically Expressed Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

J Med Chem. 2021 Dec 9;64(23):17051-17062. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00705. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer with poor prognosis. Here, we present a peptide-drug conjugate (PDC)─bradykinin-potentiating peptide-paclitaxel (BPP-PTX) conjugate─synthesized by conjugating BPP9a with PTX via a succinyl linker. BPP-PTX targets the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on TNBC cells. ACE was found to be ectopically expressed in two TNBC cell lines but was absent in both the receptor-positive breast cancer cell line and healthy kidney cell line. Overexpression, knockdown, and competitive inhibition experiments demonstrated ACE-mediated cytotoxicity of BPP-PTX. In vivo, ACE-positive tumors were enriched with BPP-PTX, with the PDC being better tolerated than plain PTX. Compared with plain PTX, BPP-PTX exhibited improved tumor-suppressive effects in MDA-MB-468 xenografted female nude mice. Meanwhile, BPP-PTX resulted in less body weight loss and white blood cell reduction toxicity. These results collectively imply the novelty, efficacy, and low-toxicity profile of BPP-PTX as a potential therapeutic for ACE-positive TNBC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bradykinin / chemistry*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / enzymology

Substances

  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Paclitaxel
  • Bradykinin