Evidence review: Open Peptide Project (verified against primary PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov & FDA records) · Last checked 2026-10-26. ← Back to Evidence Library
PNC-27: what the evidence says
At a glance
What it is: a 32-amino-acid lab-made peptide joining part of p53 (residues 12–26, the HDM-2-binding region) to a cell-penetrating sequence. From Pincus and colleagues at SUNY Downstate. R1
What the evidence says: in lab dishes it punches holes in many cancer cell types that carry HDM-2 on their surface while sparing normal cells. R1, R2 Its sister peptide PNC-28 destroyed pancreatic tumors in mice. R3 No human trial has been published.
Biggest risks: unknown in people. Using it in place of proven cancer treatment risks losing that treatment's benefit.
Rating
| Human Human evidence | None: no clinical trial found in PubMed |
| Animal Animal / lab evidence | Cancer-cell lysis in cell lines and patient-derived ovarian cancer cells; PNC-28 in mice R1, R2, R4, R3 |
| Regulatory | Never approved · not on FDA's 503A or 503B bulk-substance category lists and not on FDA's compounding safety-risk page · WADA: not named R5, R6, R7 |
| Established human dose | None. Study details lists what studies used |
Evidence verdict: Cancer treatment in people: No human data · Cancer cells in the lab and mouse tumors: Animal/lab only
This page reports what studies used. It is not dosing advice.
Legend: HUMAN data · ANIMAL / LAB data · UNKNOWN · UNVERIFIED: not yet confirmed against a primary source
About the evidence: almost every paper comes from the inventing lab. "Patient-derived" means tumor cells grown in dishes, not treated patients. R4, R1
What is it?
PNC-27 targets HDM-2 found in cancer cell membranes and kills cells by forming pores (necrosis), not by restoring p53. R1, R2 Related pages: FOXO4-DRI, P21, LL-37.
Does it work?
- Animal Cell lines: killed breast and other cancer cells but not untransformed breast cells; normal cells became sensitive when made to show HDM-2. R1, R2
- Animal Patient-derived ovarian cancer cells: growth inhibited in dishes. R4
- Animal Mice (PNC-28): complete destruction of transplanted pancreatic tumors in nude mice. R3
- Unknown No human data.
Is it safe?
- Unknown No human safety data. In mice, PNC-28 did not affect normal pancreatic cells in the reported experiments. R3
Gray-market "research use only" PNC-27: extra risks
A gray-market vial has no quality control and no guarantee of identity, strength or sterility. We test retail vials blind under the Open Peptide Standard; see /tests/. A passing test covers one batch on one date and does not mean the compound is safe.
What we don't know
- Unknown Whether it reaches tumors or works in people
- Unknown Any human safety data
Is it legal?
- US (FDA): not approved; not on FDA's 503A or 503B bulk-substance category lists and not on FDA's compounding safety-risk page. R5, R6, R7
- Athletes: not named on the WADA 2026 list.
Study details
Study details
These are amounts researchers used, not recommendations.
| Study | People / model | Route | Amount used | Follow-up | Reported | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michl 2006 (PNC-28) | Nude mice with pancreatic tumors | Intraperitoneal | UNVERIFIED amount not in abstract | 2 weeks | Tumors destroyed | PMID 16688716 |
| Sarafraz-Yazdi 2010 | Cancer and normal cell lines | In vitro | Caution lab concentrations, not a human amount | Hours | Cancer cells lysed | PMID 20080680 |
Full reference list (PubMed, CT.gov, FDA and WADA checked Oct 26, 2026)
- R1 Sarafraz-Yazdi E, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010. PMID 20080680
- R2 Sookraj KA, et al. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2010. PMID 20182728
- R3 Michl J, et al. Int J Cancer. 2006. PMID 16688716
- R4 Sarafraz-Yazdi E, et al. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2015. PMID 26663795
- R5 FDA, 503A bulk drug substances categories list (updated May 14, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/media/94155/download
- R6 FDA, 503B bulk drug substances categories list (updated Mar 21, 2025). https://www.fda.gov/media/94164/download
- R7 FDA, Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (content current Apr 22, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
Disclaimer
This page is for education and harm reduction, not medical advice or a recommendation to use PNC-27. Do not replace cancer treatment with an untested peptide. Talk to your oncologist about anything you are considering. Report problems to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).