Inhibition of cancer-cell migration by tetraspanin CD9-binding peptide.

A CD9-binding peptide (RSHRLRLH), screened from EWI-2, was characterized, and its effect on cellular migration and invasion was evaluated. As CD9 protein is overexpressed in cancer cells and plays an important role in cellular migration, the CD9-binding peptide preferentially inhibited the migration of cancer cells. Unlike conventional antiproliferative drugs, this CD9-binding peptide is promising as a novel precision antimigratory agent for cancer therapeutics.