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Abstract

This invention discloses a peptide, which inhibits the interaction between of MZF-1 and Elk-1 and further inhibits cancers. Both myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF-1) and Ets-like protein-1 (Elk-1) expressions correlate to PKCα expression in cancer cells. Furthermore, it is the interaction between the acidic domain of MZF-1 and the heparin-binding domain of Elk-1 which facilitated their heterodimeric complex formation before their binding to the PKCα promoter. Blocking the formation of the heterodimer changed Elk-1 nuclear localization, MZF-1 protein degradation, their DNA-binding activities, and subsequently the expression of PKCα in cancer cells. Thus, migration, tumorigenicity, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition potential of cancer cells decreased, suggesting that the Elk-1/MZF-1 heterodimer is considered as a mediator of PKCα in TNBC cell malignancy. The obtained data also suggest that the next therapeutic strategy in the treatment of cancer will come from the blocking of Elk-1/MZF-1 interaction through the saturation of Elk-1 or MZF-1 binding domains, such as through the application of cell-penetrating HIV transactivating regulatory protein-fused peptides.

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