Project Overview
ALOS4 is a novel cyclic peptide discovered through phage-display screening that selectively targets integrin αvβ3, a key regulator of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Preclinical studies demonstrated that ALOS4 suppresses melanoma progression, reduces metastatic spread, and significantly improves survival in mouse models without detectable toxicity. In addition to its anti-cancer activity, ALOS4 exhibits potent anti-inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, macrophage activation, and interferon-mediated responses, supporting its potential as a multifunctional therapeutic agent.
Research Focus
- Translational Oncology
- Cancer Immunology
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Peptide Therapeutics
- Interferon Signaling
Experimental Approaches
- Phage display peptide discovery
- Cyclic peptide synthesis
- Melanoma mouse models
- Cytokine profiling
- Interferon-response assays
- Macrophage polarization studies
Principal Investigators: Prof. Albert Pinhasov, Dr. Elemeleh Nesher
The Tumor Cells Biology Lab
Clinical Relevance
- Novel αvβ3 integrin-targeting therapeutic candidate for metastatic and treatment-resistant cancers
- Demonstrated inhibition of tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, and disease progression in preclinical melanoma models
- Potential biomarker-driven precision oncology approach targeting tumors with elevated αvβ3 expression
- Dual anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity may improve treatment efficacy within the tumor microenvironment
- Favorable preclinical safety profile supporting further translational and drug development efforts
Recent publications:
Debpali Sur , Katerina Leonova , Bar Levi , Shany Ivon Markowitz, Raichel Cohen-Harazi , Ilya Gitlin , Katerina Gurova , Andrei Gudkov , Albert Pinhasov , Igor Koman , Elimelech Nesher ,Targeted Modulation of Interferon Response-Related Genes with IFN-Alpha/Lambda Inhibition, Int. Journal of Molecular Science, 2022 Jun 29;23(13):7248
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35806255/
Bar Levi , Shiri Yacobovich , Michael Kirby , Maria Becker , Oryan Agranyoni , Boris Redko , Gary Gellerman , Albert Pinhasov, Igor Koman, Elimelech Nesher ,Anti-Cancer Effects of Cyclic Peptide ALOS4 in a Human Melanoma Mouse Model, Int. Journal of Molecular Science, 2021 Sep 3;22(17):9579.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34502483/
Shiri Yacobovich, Lena Tuchinsky , Michael Kirby , Tetiana Kardash , Oryan Agranyoni , Elimelech Nesher , Boris Redko , Gary Gellerman, Dror Tobi , Katerina Gurova , Igor Koman, Osnat Ashur Fabian , Albert Pinhasov , Novel synthetic cyclic integrin αvβ3 binding peptide ALOS4: Antitumor activity in mouse melanoma models, Oncotarget, 2016 Sep 27;7(39):63549-63560
