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In Vitro Evaluation of a Novel Computationally Designed Anticancer Peptide in Ovarian Cancer Cell Models
Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic agents with improved selectivity and reduced toxicity. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their ability to selectively target canc...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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AUC Knowledge Fountain
2025
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| Summary: | Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among
women, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic agents with improved selectivity and
reduced toxicity. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) have emerged as promising candidates
due to their ability to selectively target cancer cells. In this study, the anticancer activity
of a computationally designed ACP was evaluated in vitro using the SKOV-3 ovarian
cancer cell line, with HEK cells employed as a non-cancerous control.
Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and cytotoxicity was further confirmed
by the trypan blue exclusion method. Apoptosis and necrosis were analyzed using
Annexin V-FITC/Propidium iodide staining. The effects of ACP treatment on cell
migration and invasion were examined using wound-healing and Transwell invasion
assays, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to evaluate the
expression of genes associated with apoptosis, proliferation, and
epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), with GAPDH used as a housekeeping gene.
ACP treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in SKOV-3 cell viability, while
minimal cytotoxic effects were observed in HEK cells, indicating selective anticancer
activity. Trypan blue analysis confirmed increased cell death following ACP treatment.
Apoptosis analysis revealed a significant increase in early apoptotic cells in ACP-treated
SKOV-3 cells compared with untreated controls. Functional assays demonstrated a
marked inhibition of cell migration and invasion upon ACP treatment. Gene expression
analysis showed modulation of apoptosis- and proliferation-associated markers;
however, no statistically significant changes were observed in the EMT-related genes
TWIST1 and N-cadherin.
This study provides functional evidence that the computationally designed anticancer
peptide (ACP) exhibits selective anticancer activity against ovarian cancer cells in vitro,
associated with increased apoptosis and reduced migratory and invasive behaviors. |
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