A novel cycloheptapeptide exerts strong anticancer activity via stimulation of multiple apoptotic pathways in caspase-3 deficient cancer cells.

Background: VR3848 is a novel cycloheptapeptide, isolated from a Euphorbiaceae plant, which can suppress proliferation of various tumor cells at nanomolar concentration. Due to its novelty and potency, the molecular process of tumor cell growth inhibition was investigated intensively.

Materials And Methods: MCF-7 cells, a caspase-3 deficient cancer cell line, were treated with VR3848.