SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES AND TUMOR-CELL METASTASIS

Synthetic peptides are used presently to screen a great variety of biological activities, including the adhesion, spreading and motility of metastatic tumor cells. By ''mapping'' extracellular matrix protein sequences, peptides have been identified that have discreet tumor cell activities such as inhibiting in vivo lung metastasis. These peptides are often found to have distinct secondary structures (beta-turns, beta-sheets, alpha-helices). Some sequences have been incorporated into tertiary structures (triple-helices, timeric alpha-helical coils) that enhance cellular activities. By combining information on the primary, secondary and tertiary structures of these peptides with the nature of cell-surface adhesion molecules, the processes by which tumor cells adhere, spread and invade can be better understood.