The role of synthetic peptides derived from bovine lactoferricin against breast cancer cell lines: a mini-review

Abstract

Abstract Breast cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately one in eight cancers diagnosed. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and detection of this disease, there is still a great need for more effective therapies to combat the invasive forms, especially those with a high incidence of metastasis. For that reason, bioactive molecules as peptides, including bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB), have been investigated. In this sense, there are reports that 20RRWQWR25 motif derivate from the LfcinB has shown activity against different cancer cell lines. Thus, current studies are being carried out with synthetic derivatives (linear, palindromic, dimer and tetrameric structures) that contain the 20RRWQWR25 motif in order to increase its activity against cancer cell lines by altering its hydrophobicity and net positive charge. In this regard, studies have focused on the use of LfcinB derivatives to combat breast cancer cell lines, with encouraging results. Therefore, in this mini-review, we present the state of the art regarding the activity of LfcinB and its analogs against breast cancer cell lines.