A translational study for biomarker identification of PEP-010, a pro-apoptotic peptide restoring apoptosis in cancer models

• PEP-010 is a pro-apoptotic peptide based on a proprietary cell-penetrating and interfering peptide technology for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. • PEP-010 acts by disrupting the interaction between caspase-9 and PP2A, two key proteins involved in apoptosis, a physiological process frequently altered in cancers. • PEP-010 efficiently induces apoptosis in cancer cells. • PEP-010 demonstrates antitumor activity by inhibiting the growth of breast cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDX). • This study establishes cleaved caspase-3 and Ki67 protein expression as two candidate pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers for monitoring PEP-010-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.