A modified thymosin alpha 1 inhibits the growth of breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo: suppressment of cell proliferation, inducible cell apoptosis and enhancement of targeted anticancer effects.

Lao X, Li B, Liu M, Shen C, Yu T, Gao X, Zheng H

Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death1 Oct 2015Cited by 19 (Europe PMC)

PMID26283169DOI10.1007/s10495-015-1151-zPepBankPUB-26283169

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone6

In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

01AnimalNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In vivo, treatment with the Tα1-iRGD conjugate was more efficacious than treatment with thymosin alpha‑1.
In plain wordsIn animals, the thymosin alpha‑1 and iRGD conjugate worked better than thymosin alpha‑1 alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Direction not reportedAnti-tumor efficacy in vivo
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Wild-type thymosin alpha 1
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
More importantly, treatment with Ta1-iRGD was more efficacious than treatment with Ta1 in vivo.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present study, Tα1-iRGD, a peptide by conjugating Tα1 with the iRGD fragment, was evaluated its performance in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-2628316906
02LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In breast cancer cells, the Tα1-iRGD conjugate was more selective in binding tumor cells than wild-type thymosin alpha‑1 in a cell attachment assay.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, a thymosin alpha‑1 peptide joined to iRGD bound breast cancer cells more selectively than thymosin alpha‑1 alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseTumor cell binding selectivity
Study
humann: not reported in source
MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells
Comparator
Wild-type thymosin alpha 1
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with the wild-type peptide, Tα1-iRGD was more selective in binding tumor cells in the cell attachment assay.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present study, Tα1-iRGD, a peptide by conjugating Tα1 with the iRGD fragment, was evaluated its performance in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-2628316901
03LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
In MCF-7 cells, the Tα1-iRGD conjugate inhibited growth significantly more effectively than thymosin alpha‑1, which showed a general inhibition.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, the thymosin alpha‑1 and iRGD conjugate slowed breast cancer cell growth more than thymosin alpha‑1 alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
DecreaseMCF-7 cell growth inhibition (MTT assay)
Study
humann: not reported in source
MCF-7 human breast cancer cells
Comparator
Wild-type thymosin alpha 1
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Furthermore, the MTT assay confirmed that Tα1-iRGD proved more effective in significantly inhibiting the growth of MCF-7 cells in contrast to the general inhibition displayed by Tα1.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present study, Tα1-iRGD, a peptide by conjugating Tα1 with the iRGD fragment, was evaluated its performance in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-2628316902
04LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
The Tα1-iRGD conjugate preserved the immunomodulatory activity of thymosin alpha‑1 by increasing the proliferation of mouse spleen lymphocytes.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, the thymosin alpha‑1 and iRGD conjugate kept the ability to make mouse immune cells multiply.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseMouse spleen lymphocyte proliferation
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse spleen lymphocytes
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Further, conjugation of Tα1 with iRGD preserved the immunomodulatory activity of the drug by increasing the proliferation of mouse spleen lymphocytes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present study, Tα1-iRGD, a peptide by conjugating Tα1 with the iRGD fragment, was evaluated its performance in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-2628316903
05LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
Compared with thymosin alpha‑1, the Tα1-iRGD conjugate considerably increased the number of MCF-7 cells undergoing apoptosis, with dose-dependent inhibition of growth.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, the thymosin alpha‑1 and iRGD conjugate made more breast cancer cells die than thymosin alpha‑1 alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseApoptosis of MCF-7 cells
Study
humann: not reported in source
MCF-7 human breast cancer cells
Comparator
Wild-type thymosin alpha 1
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Further, compared with Tα1 treatment, Tα1-iRGD treatment of MCF-7 cells considerably increased the number of cells undergoing apoptosis, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth, which was associated with a much better effect on up-regulation of the expression of BCL2-associate…
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present study, Tα1-iRGD, a peptide by conjugating Tα1 with the iRGD fragment, was evaluated its performance in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-2628316904
06LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
Compared with thymosin alpha‑1, the Tα1-iRGD conjugate had a much better effect on up-regulating Bax and caspase 9 expression in MCF-7 cells.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, the conjugate raised cell-death proteins Bax and caspase 9 in breast cancer cells more than thymosin alpha‑1 alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseBax and caspase 9 expression in MCF-7 cells
Study
humann: not reported in source
MCF-7 human breast cancer cells
Comparator
Wild-type thymosin alpha 1
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Further, compared with Tα1 treatment, Tα1-iRGD treatment of MCF-7 cells considerably increased the number of cells undergoing apoptosis, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth, which was associated with a much better effect on up-regulation of the expression of BCL2-associate…
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present study, Tα1-iRGD, a peptide by conjugating Tα1 with the iRGD fragment, was evaluated its performance in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-2628316905

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 3Current
10 Oct 2026, 08:55 UTC
Study results updated
Version 2
9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:02 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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