Peptide Profile
PNC-27
A cancer-fighting peptide that works like a smart missile—it hunts down and destroys cancer cells by poking holes in them, while leaving your healthy cells completely untouched.
Dose Range
1-2mg
Frequency
Once daily
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Cycle Length
4-6 weeks
Onset
Rapid (hours to days)
Evidence
Strong
Compound Profile
Scientific & Efficacy Data
C188H293N53O44S
Molecular Formula
4031.73 g/mol
Molecular Weight
2-4 hours (estimated from preclinical data)
Half-Life
High when injected subcutaneously
Bioavailability
1159861-00-3
CAS #
Not yet assigned
PubChem ID ↗
Developed By · 2006
Matthew R. Pincus, MD, PhD
SUNY Downstate Medical Center & VA New York Harbor Healthcare System
Primary Benefits
Amino Acid Sequence
Pro-Pro-Leu-Ser-Gln-Glu-Thr-Phe-Ser-Asp-Leu-Trp-Lys-Leu-Leu-Lys-Lys-Trp-Lys-Met-Arg-Arg-Asn-Gln-Phe-Trp-Val-Lys-Val-Gln-Arg-GlyDosing
How much
do I take?
Starting Dose
1 mg
This is where most research protocols begin. It lets you see how your body responds before moving up. Think of it as dipping your toe in the water first.
Standard Dose
1.5 mg
The sweet spot for most research applications. This dose showed solid anticancer activity in lab studies without extra side effects.
Advanced Dose
2 mg
The higher end of research dosing. Animal studies at this level (40 mg/kg) showed powerful anti-leukemia effects. Only use under close supervision.
Timing
Best time to take
Morning injections work well for most people—it keeps your schedule consistent and lets you monitor how you feel throughout the day.
With food?
You can take PNC-27 with or without food. It doesn't seem to matter for absorption, so do whatever fits your routine.
If stacking
If you're using other peptides too, inject them at different sites and wait about 30-60 minutes between each one. This helps you track which peptide causes what effect.
Adjusting Your Dose
Increase if
- +You've been on the starting dose for 1-2 weeks with zero problems
- +Your research protocol calls for dose escalation
- +You're not seeing the expected research markers change at lower doses
Decrease if
- -Injection site reactions are more than just mild redness
- -You develop a fever over 100°F that doesn't go away
- -You experience any unexpected or uncomfortable side effects
Signs of right dose
- ✓Little to no injection site reaction after the first few days
- ✓Stable energy levels throughout treatment
- ✓Research markers moving in the expected direction
- ✓No signs of allergic reaction or systemic issues
Dosing Calculator
Calculate Your Exact Dose
Amount to Draw
10
units
Suitability
Is this
right for me?
Best For
Solid Tumor Research
PNC-27 has shown remarkable results against solid tumors in lab studies. It's been tested against breast, pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancer cells—and in each case, it killed the cancer cells while the healthy cells next to them stayed perfectly fine. That's the holy grail of cancer research.
Leukemia and Blood Cancer Studies
In studies on acute myeloid leukemia (AML), PNC-27 wiped out cancer cells within just 4 hours. It works on several types of leukemia cells (U937, OCI-AML3, HL-60) by targeting a protein that only shows up on cancer cell surfaces. Normal blood cells? Completely unharmed.
Cancer Stem Cell Targeting
Here's where PNC-27 gets really interesting: it can kill cancer stem cells. These are the sneaky cells that often survive chemo and cause cancer to come back. PNC-27 has shown it can destroy CD44+ colon cancer stem cells, which is a big deal for preventing recurrence.
Drug-Resistant Cancer Research
When cancers stop responding to regular chemotherapy, researchers need new approaches. PNC-27 works through a completely different mechanism than traditional chemo drugs, so it may be effective against cancers that have become resistant to other treatments.
Consider Alternatives If
Who Should Avoid
Do not use if
- ×You are pregnant or might become pregnant—we don't know how this affects developing babies
- ×You are breastfeeding—we can't be sure it won't pass into breast milk
- ×You've ever had a serious allergic reaction to any peptide
- ×You have a severe autoimmune disease and haven't talked to a specialist
- ×You're not working with a qualified medical professional or researcher—this is not a DIY peptide
Use with caution if
- !You take immunosuppressant medications—they might interfere with PNC-27's effects
- !You have a history of severe allergies to anything
- !Your liver or kidneys aren't working at full capacity
- !You're currently getting chemotherapy or radiation—talk to your oncologist first
- !You have any blood clotting disorders—injections carry some bleeding risk
Administration
How do I
use it?
Reconstitution
What you need
- •Bacteriostatic water (BAC water)—the preservative helps it last longer
- •Insulin syringes (29-31 gauge)—small needles mean less discomfort
- •Alcohol swabs for cleaning vial tops and injection sites
- •Your PNC-27 powder vial
Injection
Route
Subcutaneous injection (just under the skin)—it's the easiest method for self-administration
Best sites
- •Belly fat area (about 2 inches away from your belly button)
- •Front or outer thigh (middle section)
- •Back of the upper arm (have someone help if needed)
- •Love handle area (the soft spots on your sides)
Technique
- 1.Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
- 2.Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it air dry completely
- 3.Pinch about an inch of skin to create a fold
- 4.Insert the needle at a 45-90 degree angle (45 if you're lean, 90 if you have more tissue)
- 5.Push the plunger slowly and steadily—rushing can cause discomfort
- 6.Wait 5 seconds before pulling the needle out
- 7.Don't rub the site afterward—just apply light pressure if needed
Storage
Signs of degradation
Safety
Is it
safe?
Safety Profile
Here's the really cool thing about PNC-27: in all the lab and animal studies so far, it ONLY attacks cancer cells. Normal, healthy cells are completely ignored because they don't have the protein (HDM-2) on their surface that PNC-27 targets. Animal studies using doses up to 40 mg/kg showed tumors shrinking or disappearing with zero damage to normal tissues. That said, it hasn't been tested in human clinical trials yet, so we're still learning.
The safety data comes from extensive cell studies and animal experiments—not human trials. The science behind why it's selective is solid (cancer cells uniquely express HDM-2 on their surface), but always work with a medical professional when using research compounds.
Common Side Effects
Experienced by some users
Injection site redness
A little pink or red area around where you injected is totally normal. It's just your skin reacting to the needle and the solution. Usually shows up within an hour and fades within a day or two.
Management: Rotate your injection sites so the same spot gets a break. A cool compress can help if it's bothersome. If redness spreads or gets worse after 48 hours, check in with your doctor.
Mild fatigue
Some people feel a bit tired after their injection, especially in the first week. Your body is responding to something new. It's usually mild and goes away within a few hours.
Management: Rest if you need to—listen to your body. Stay hydrated and don't schedule anything too demanding right after your injection until you know how you respond.
Localized warmth or tenderness
The injection area might feel warm to the touch or slightly tender. This is a normal inflammatory response and nothing to worry about unless it gets severe.
Management: This usually resolves on its own within 24-48 hours. A cool compress can help. If warmth spreads beyond the injection area or you develop red streaks, contact your doctor.
Less Common
- •Headache
- •Low-grade fever
These typically resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Stop and Seek Help If
- ×Any signs of allergic reaction—hives, swelling, trouble breathing (stop immediately and get help)
- ×Fever that stays above 101°F for more than a day
- ×Injection site reactions that keep getting worse instead of better
- ×Any side effect that feels serious or really concerns you
- ×Your research protocol is complete
- ×Your supervising doctor or researcher tells you to stop
PNC-27 is a research compound, not an approved medication. Never start, stop, or change your dosing without guidance from a qualified medical professional or research supervisor. This information is for educational purposes—it's not medical advice.
Interactions
With other peptides
- ✓Generally considered safe to use together. BPC-157 supports healing and gut health, which complements PNC-27's targeted approach. Inject at different sites.
- ✓May actually work well together since both support immune function in different ways. Thymosin boosts overall immunity while PNC-27 targets cancer cells specifically.
- ✓Safe to combine. GHK-Cu helps with tissue repair and has its own mild anticancer properties. Different mechanisms, so no conflict expected.
- !Don't use these together. PNC-28 is basically a shorter version of PNC-27 that works the same way. Using both would be redundant and could cause unexpected effects.
With medications
- !Immunosuppressants (like prednisone, cyclosporine) - Could interfere with how PNC-27 works since it relies partly on immune function. Talk to your doctor—you may need to adjust timing or dosing.
- !Blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, etc.) - May increase bleeding or bruising at injection sites. Not dangerous, but something to watch. Your doctor might want to monitor your clotting levels.
- ✓NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) - Generally fine for occasional use. They might slightly increase injection site bleeding but nothing serious for most people.
- !Chemotherapy drugs - Unknown interactions—PNC-27 works differently than chemo, which could be good or bad. Only combine under oncologist supervision in a research setting.
With supplements
- ✓Vitamin D - Safe and potentially helpful. Vitamin D supports immune function, which could complement PNC-27's effects.
- ✓Zinc - Safe to take together. Zinc is important for immune health and wound healing from injections.
- ✓Omega-3 fish oil - Safe to combine. May have mild blood-thinning effects, so watch for extra bruising at injection sites, but nothing dangerous.
- ✓High-dose antioxidants (vitamin C megadoses, etc.) - Theoretical concern here: PNC-27 kills cancer cells partly through oxidative stress. Flooding your body with antioxidants might interfere. Stick to normal supplement doses.
Effectiveness
Does it
work?
Evidence Level
Strong preclinical
What to Expect
Week 1-2
What you might notice
- •Some redness or tenderness at injection sites (totally normal)
- •Maybe a bit of fatigue as your body adjusts
- •Possibly nothing at all—many people have no noticeable effects
- •In research settings, baseline measurements are being established
What's normal
- •Mild injection site reactions that fade within a day or two
- •Feeling slightly tired on injection days
- •No dramatic changes yet—patience is key
- •Your body is getting used to the peptide
What's next
- →Keep following your protocol consistently
- →Track any side effects in a simple log
- →If you're tolerating it well, you may move to a higher dose soon
Week 3-4
What you might notice
- •Injection site reactions usually decrease as your body adapts
- •In research contexts, early marker changes might start appearing
- •You'll likely settle into a routine and injections become easier
- •Overall tolerance typically improves
What's normal
- •Fewer and milder injection site reactions
- •Steady energy levels
- •The process feeling more routine and less nerve-wracking
- •Mid-protocol assessments happening in research settings
What's next
- →Continue with your established routine
- →Dose increases happen around now if your protocol calls for it
- →Keep tracking any changes or effects
Week 5-6+
What you might notice
- •Full adaptation—injections should be pretty routine by now
- •In research settings, this is when meaningful data gets collected
- •Minimal to no injection site reactions for most people
- •Your body has adjusted to the peptide
What's normal
- •Smooth sailing with the injection routine
- •Stable health markers and energy levels
- •Approaching the end of a typical research cycle
- •Time for end-of-protocol assessments
What's next
- →Complete your protocol as directed
- →Work with your supervisor to evaluate results
- →Discuss whether to continue, pause, or conclude
Signs It's Working
Research/Clinical Markers (in supervised settings)
- ✓Tumor markers trending downward on blood tests
- ✓Imaging scans showing reduced tumor size or activity
- ✓Improved lab values related to your specific condition
- ✓No disease progression during treatment
- ✓Cancer cell counts decreasing (in leukemia research)
Personal Tolerance Indicators
- ✓Side effects decreasing or staying minimal over time
- ✓Energy levels staying stable or improving
- ✓No allergic reactions or concerning symptoms
- ✓Injection sites healing cleanly between doses
- ✓Generally feeling okay throughout the protocol
Not Seeing Results?
Common reasons
- •Peptide degraded from improper storage—always check if your solution looks right before injecting (clear, no particles)
- •Inconsistent dosing schedule—try to inject at the same time each day for best results
- •Using a peptide that sat too long after reconstitution—stick to the 14-day window
- •Poor quality peptide from unreliable source—always get third-party testing certificates (COAs)
- •Dose too low for your specific research goals—this should be evaluated by your protocol supervisor
- •Not enough time on protocol—meaningful results often take the full 4-6 weeks to emerge
Key Research
"PNC-27, a Chimeric p53-Penetratin Peptide Binds to HDM-2 in a p53 Peptide-like Structure, Induces Selective Membrane-Pore Formation and Leads to Cancer Cell Lysis"
Sarafraz-Yazdi E, Mumin S, Engel D, et al., 2022
Finding: This study showed exactly how PNC-27 kills cancer cells: it binds to HDM-2 proteins on cancer cell membranes, forms ring-shaped structures, and pokes holes that cause the cell to burst. Normal cells without surface HDM-2 are completely ignored.
View Study"Targeting Membrane HDM-2 by PNC-27 Induces Necrosis in Leukemia Cells But Not in Normal Hematopoietic Cells"
Thadi A, Forber M, Engel D, et al., 2020
Finding: PNC-27 killed three different types of leukemia cells (U937, OCI-AML3, HL-60) within just 4 hours, but left normal blood-forming cells completely unharmed. This selectivity is what makes PNC-27 so exciting for cancer research.
View Study"Molecular Targeting of H/MDM-2 Oncoprotein in Human Colon Cancer Cells and Stem-like Colonic Epithelial-derived Progenitor Cells"
Thadi A, Esposito M, Bhargava S, et al., 2021
Finding: PNC-27 successfully killed cancer stem cells (CD44+ cells) from colon cancer—this is huge because cancer stem cells often survive regular chemo and cause cancer to come back. Normal colon cells were not affected.
View Study"The Anti-Cancer Peptide, PNC-27, Induces Tumor Cell Lysis as the Intact Peptide"
Bowne WB, Michl J, Sookraj KA, et al., 2014
Finding: Researchers confirmed that PNC-27 stays intact when it kills cancer cells—it doesn't break down into smaller pieces first. The whole peptide binds to cancer cell membranes and creates physical holes, causing the cells to die by necrosis.
View Study"Anticancer peptide PNC-27 adopts an HDM-2-binding conformation and kills cancer cells by binding to HDM-2 in their membranes"
Sookraj KA, Bowne WB, Adler V, et al., 2010
Finding: This foundational study proved that PNC-27 specifically binds to HDM-2 protein in cancer cell membranes (not inside cells). Since normal cells keep HDM-2 inside the cell, PNC-27 can't target them. It's like cancer cells have a 'target' sign only PNC-27 can see.
View StudyFrequently Asked Questions