Engineered 'stapled' peptides to block cancer proteins
Stapled Peptides for Protein Interaction Research and Therapeutic Targeting in Human Cancer
Researchers are developing stabilized 'stapled' peptides to block cancer proteins that let tumors survive and resist treatment, aiming to create new therapies for people with cancers driven by those proteins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173749 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project designs and refines 'stapled' peptides—small, chemically locked pieces of protein—that can fit into and block harmful protein interactions in cancer cells. The team tailors these peptides for stability, cell entry, and specific binding, and uses NMR, mass spectrometry, fluorescent tags, and radiolabels to map where and how they bind. Optimized peptide candidates, including covalent and photoreactive variants, are tested in the lab and in preclinical models to guide possible future therapeutic development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers driven by BCL-2 family proteins or other 'helix-in-groove' oncogenic interactions, or patients whose tumors resist current therapies, would be the most likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are driven by unrelated mechanisms or who need immediate standard-of-care treatment may not benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these peptides could become a new way to shut down cancer proteins and make tumors more likely to die or respond to treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Small-molecule BCL-2 inhibitors (for example, venetoclax) have shown clinical success, but stapled peptides are a newer, more experimental strategy that is still being developed.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bird, Gregory Howard — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Bird, Gregory Howard
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.