This peptide derived from the full-length fibroblast growth factor 7 protein can ameliorate chemotherapy and/or radiation-mediated injury or toxicity in many epithelial tissues. Irritation and damage to tissue linings is a common negative side effect of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In the case of pelvic radiotherapy, 90 percent of patients suffer lasting damage to their bowels. These side effects can be detrimental to a patient’s quality of life by causing a variety of gastrointestinal issues. The lining of the bladder is also very sensitive to injury from chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide or external beam radiotherapy, leading to life-threatening bleeding and high risks of future bladder cancer. Fibroblast growth factor 7 is able to relieve the toxic side effects caused by radiation or chemotherapy in bladder, oral, intestinal, retinal, and lung alveolar tissue linings. However, the full-length protein is very expensive and difficult to purify, and it has a short shelf life. Also, because it is a relatively large molecule, it is difficult to optimize for maximum efficacy and consistent results as a therapeutic.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a fibroblast growth factor 7 peptide for treating the harmful side effects of radiation and chemotherapy on many types of tissue linings. The amino acid fragment is derived from the full-length fibroblast growth factor 7, but it is significantly smaller, less expensive, more preservable, and easier to synthesize and optimize.
Therapeutic that ameliorates toxic side effects on tissue linings experienced by patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy
This small peptide fragment derives from the fibroblast growth factor 7 protein that binds to the receptor expressed in many epithelial cells. Administering a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide to patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy will provide the same beneficial effects as the full-length growth factor, treating or preventing tissue lining damage or symptoms caused by tissue lining damage. Researchers have demonstrated the treatment’s efficacy using animal model data. The models tested to date show that the peptide is effective at limiting bladder lining cell injury induced by cyclophosphamide and external beam radiation.
