BOMBESIN IS A GASTROINTESTINAL HORMONE AND A NEURALLY ACTIVEPEPTIDE THAT STIMULATES GASTRIC ACID SECRETION VIA GASTRIN RELEASE.

BOMBESIN IS A GASTROINTESTINAL HORMONE AND A NEURALLY ACTIVEPEPTIDE THAT STIMULATES GASTRIC ACID SECRETION VIA GASTRIN RELEASE. THE PEPTIDE IS BEHAVIORALLY ACTIVE IN SUPPRESSING FOOD INTAKE AND LOWERING BODY TEMPERATURE. THE MAMMALIAN ENDOGENOUS FORM OF THE PEPTIDE IS ECTOPICALLY PRODUCED IN SMALL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG. THESE TUMOR CELLS ALSO HAVE BOMBESIN RECEPTORS. THEREFORE, A POSSIBLE MEANS OF CHEMOTHERAPY COULD CONSIST OF DRUGS DERIVED FROM THIS PEPTIDE. THE SYNTHESIS OF A SERIES OF ANALOGUES IS PROPOSED. ONE GROUP IS COMPOSED OF AGONIST PEPTIDES DESIGNED FOR ENHANCED POTENCY AND EFFICACY. THESE PEPTIDES CONTAIN A MINIMUM ACTIVE SEQUENCE WITH CHANGES TO STABILIZE THE CONFORMATION. INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP ARE POSSIBLE SPECIFIC ANTAGONISTS. THESE PEPTIDES WILL BE SCREENED FOR ACTIVITY AND ANTAGONISM IN CHEMOTAXIS TO MACROPHAGES AND TUMOR CELLS AND IN FOOD INTAKE BEHAVIOR.