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Discovery and development of N-cadherin antagonists

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Abstract

This article describes over 20 years of research on antagonists of the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin. Four types of antagonists are discussed: synthetic linear peptides, synthetic cyclic peptides, non-peptidyl peptidomimetics of the disulfide linked cyclic peptide N-Ac-CHAVC-NH2 and monoclonal antibodies directed against the N-cadherin ectodomain. The biological activities of these antagonists are also discussed. In particular, the ability of N-cadherin antagonists to act as anti-cancer drugs is considered.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Tracey Rowlands for helpful comments concerning the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Orest W. Blaschuk.

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Blaschuk, O.W. Discovery and development of N-cadherin antagonists. Cell Tissue Res 348, 309–313 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-011-1320-5

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