Abstract

Antitumor Potential of Lactaptin

Vladimir A Richter, Anna A Vaskova, Olga A Koval and Elena V Kuligina

A number of naturally occurring proteins that selectively induce apoptosis of cancer cells were recently used to develop novel anticancer drug substances. Human milk is a source of multiple bioactive peptides, some of which are activated by proteolysis. Lactaptin is an 8.6 kDa proteolytic fragment of kappa-casein isolated from human milk. This mini review describes apoptotic properties, mechanism of action and antitumor activity of lactaptin.