melittin-dKLA

melittin-dKLA (MEL-dKLA) is a hybrid peptide-drug conjugate consisting of melittin (MEL), a major component of honeybee venom that preferentially binds to active CD18 (integrin beta-2) on M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), conjugated to the pro-apoptotic peptide d(KLAKLAK)2 (dKLA). Developed by researchers at Kyung Hee University, MEL-dKLA selectively targets and depletes immunosuppressive M2-like TAMs in the tumor microenvironment by inducing mitochondrial membrane disruption and apoptosis. This depletion of M2 macrophages alleviates T-cell exhaustion, enhances CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and inhibits tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. MEL-dKLA has been investigated preclinically for the treatment of various solid tumors, including breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and prostate cancer, both as a monotherapy and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors like anti-PD-L1 antibodies.

Other names

melittin-d(KLAKLAK)2melittin-dKLA conjugatemelittin-dKLA hybrid peptide