Hecate-CGbeta conjugate and gonadotropin suppression shows two distinct mechanisms of action in the treatment of adrenocortical tumors in transgenic mice expressing Simian Virus 40 T antigen under inhibin-alpha promoter.

Lytic peptide Hecate (23-amino acid (AA)) fused with a 15-AA fragment of human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (CG-beta), Hecate-CGbeta conjugate (H-CGbeta-c) selectively binds to and destroys tumor cells expressing LH/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (Lhcgr). Transgenic mice (6.5 month old) expressing SV40 T-antigen under the inhibin-alpha promoter (inhalpha/Tag) presenting with Lhcgr expressing adrenal tumors were treated either with H-CGbeta-c, GnRH antagonist (GnRH-a), estradiol (E(2); only females) or their combinations for 1 month.