PE-26

PE-26 is a peptide-expressing phage clone (phage subset) identified from a phage display peptide library that selectively targets mesenchymal-like breast cancer cells. Developed by researchers at Tuskegee University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Alabama State University, PE-26 exhibits a high binding affinity for aggressive, mesenchymal-subtype breast cancer cells (such as MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 overexpressing TGF-beta) compared to control fibroblast cells. It is being investigated for potential applications as a diagnostic tool to detect circulating tumor cells, an imaging agent to study epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vivo, or as a targeted chemotherapeutic delivery vehicle.