In vitro assessment of the cytotoxic effects of novel RGD analogues

Abstract

The RGD sequence is present in many extracellular matrix proteins and intracellular proteins, including caspases. Synthetic RGD peptides may affect adhesion, migration and tumour metastasis, or directly induce apoptosis. Several RGD peptides were synthesized, and their anti-adhesive and cytotoxic properties were analyzed in vitro. Here we present the cytotoxic activities of RGD, R(NO2)GD, CavGD and RGD-OMe on non-tumour 3T3 cells and tumour cell lines HepG2 and MCF-7. The cell growth inhibitory effects of RGD-OMe are significantly higher than those of RGD on the cell lines used. Evidently the modification in the carboxylic group of RGD with simple esterification increases the cell growth inhibitory effects of the parent compound.

Keywords

• RGD
• cytotoxic activity
• canavanine