aCx26-pep is a peptide consisting of the gap junction protein connexin 26 (Cx26) cytosolic tail sequence, coupled to antennapedia. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most lethal and treatment resistant breast cancer subtypes and it contains a unique protein complex composed of Cx26, the pluripotency transcription factor NANOG, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), with the Cx26 cytosolic tail being essential for interaction with NANOG and FAK. In vitro, in breast cancer cells, aCx26-pep treatment decreases FAK and NANOG levels and alters NANOG function, and also decreases tumoursphere frequency. In vivo, in an NSG mouse model, aCx26-pep reduces TNBC tumour growth and proliferation and induces cell death.
