a Travassos and his team discovered the melanoma-homing peptide C that was combined with antiangiogenic peptide to specifically target melanoma vasculature. More importantly, in international cooperation, peptides derived from complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) that showed antimicrobial activity against further showed to be promising tools with cytotoxic properties against cancer cells. Similarly, peptides derived from natural sources, such as the gomesin peptide, not only had shown antimicrobial properties but could treat cutaneous melanoma in experimental models. These therapeutic tools allowed Prof. Travassos and his group to navigate the intricate scenery of factors and pathways that drive malignancy development, including persistent proliferative signaling, evasion of tumor suppressor genes, inhibition of programmed cell death, and cellular immortality. This review examines the mechanisms of action of these peptides, aligning them with the universally acknowledged hallmarks of cancer, and evaluates their potential as drug candidates. It highlights the crucial need for more selective, microbiology-inspired anti-cancer strategies that spare healthy cells, a challenge that current therapies often struggle to address. Beta-Lipotropin (1-10), porcine By offering a comprehensive assessment of Prof. Travassos innovative contributions and a detailed discussion around the increasing importance of microbiology-derived peptides, this review presents an informed and strong perspective around the possible future direction of cancer therapy. Keywords: Peptides, Antimicrobial, Phage-display, CDR, Antitumor Introduction Prof. Luiz R. Travassos was an eminent physique with expertise spanning microbiology, immunochemistry, cellular and molecular immunology, and experimental oncology. Travassos contributions have been crucial in expanding our understanding of these fields. His scientific discoveries, honed at esteemed institutions including Columbia University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center during the 1970s, have spearheaded innovative research endeavors. Travassos initially established his laboratory in New York to investigate physiology of yeasts and to develop microbiological Rabbit Polyclonal to SGOL1 methods for quaternary ammonium compounds such as carnitine and choline [1C7]. While in the US, Travassos found himself amidst some of the brightest minds in immunology, and his interest in immunochemistry was stirred by Kenneth O. Lloyd and Elvin Kabats work on the immunochemistry of carbohydrates and polysaccharides. This led to his substantial contributions to the study of heteropolysaccharides [8C13]. But it was at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where Travassos concentrated his research on cancer. Here, in collaboration with Prof. Lloyd J. Old, known as the father of modern tumor immunology, he identified and classified molecules in cancer patient samples, searching for specific antigens of malignant melanoma cells for immunotherapy [14C17]. This period of collaborative research resulted in the identification of GD3 ganglioside as an overexpressed antigen in melanoma, thereby introducing a new era of cancer targets based on glycolipids for the development of novel immunotherapies [15]. Travassos then transferred his extensive knowledge of cancer immunology to a new generation of Brazilian scientists. This dedicated group aimed to expand our Beta-Lipotropin (1-10), porcine understanding of melanoma immunobiology and to produce novel therapies. Their focus centered on peptides with antitumor activity, derived from immunoglobulins and other resources. Peptides, short chains of amino acids, have emerged as promising molecules with diverse biological activities, including their antimicrobial and antitumor functions. Their unique properties, such as high specificity, low toxicity, and the ability to interact with various cellular targets, make peptides a stylish option for developing targeted therapies against cancer [18]. Over the years, extensive research has been conducted to develop bioactive peptides derived from microbiology approaches, such as phage-display, and different sources, such as protein domains, natural resources, and complementary determining regions (CDRs) from immunoglobulins. These investigations have yielded useful insights not only into the antimicrobial properties of some of these peptides [19C21] but also into the mechanisms of action of their potential in fighting tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion. In this review, we delve into the exciting advancements in the field of peptide-based antitumor therapies, highlighting the groundbreaking findings and contributions of Prof. Travassos and his team in unraveling the therapeutic potential of peptides against cancer. Phage display of peptides in oncology George P. Smith initially introduced phage display in 1985, a remarkable technique used in the field of microbiology that Beta-Lipotropin (1-10), porcine facilitated the selection of peptides or proteins with distinct binding affinities [22]. This technique allows for detailed.