Peptides in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer and Other Pancreatic Diseases from Basic Research to Clinical Translation.

Peptides have emerged as pivotal agents in biomedicine due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, including high binding affinity, minimal immunogenicity, and precise target specificity. This review critically examines recent advancements in peptide-based strategies for pancreatic disorders, encompassing inflammatory conditions (e.g. pancreatitis), metabolic dysfunctions (e.g. diabetes), and notably, pancreatic cancer. We delineate the evolution of peptide therapeutics, emphasizing rational drug design approaches such as backbone cyclization and N-methylation to enhance metabolic stability, complemented by computational methodologies like molecular docking and AI-driven affinity maturation to optimize target engagement. The discussion highlights key innovations, including peptide probes for early diagnostic detection and peptide-drug conjugates for targeted intervention, while evaluating their efficacy in preclinical models and assessing their biosafety profiles. Furthermore, we survey current clinical trials aimed at translating these engineered peptides into clinical applications. Concluding with a perspective on precision medicine, we outline future trajectories necessitating advanced AI-integrated design frameworks and robust clinical validation to accelerate the bench-to-bedside translation of peptide technologies.