Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and fatal brain tumor. GBM is resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Recent studies have shown that glioma-initiating cells (GICs), which have characteristics of cancer stem cells, are responsible for the resistance to chemotherapy and radiation and regrowth. No effective therapy for GICs has been developed. Here we showed that D-isomer peptides (dPasFHV-p53C') consisting of a cell-penetrating peptide (FHV), penetration accelerating sequence (Pas) and C-terminus of p53 (p53C') induced the cell death of GICs. dPasFHV-p53C' was effectively transduced into human GICs. The peptides dose-dependently inhibited cell growth and at 3 mu M completely blocked the growth of GICs but not embryonic stem cells. Autophagic cell death was observed in the GICs treated with dPasFHV-p53C' but apoptosis was not. dPasFHV without p53C' showed the same effect as dPasFHV-p53C', suggesting Pas to play a critical role in the cell death of GICs. Finally, dPasFHV-p53C' reduced tumor mass in mice transplanted with GICs. Peptide transduction therapy using dPasFHV-p53C' could be a new method for the treatment of GBM. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.