This disclosure provides peptides which have an affinity for the focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). In particular, the peptides are modified and derived from the sequence of the LD2 alpha helical domain of paxillin (e.g., LD2 peptides), the LD4 domain of paxillin (e.g., LD4 peptides), and CD8 peptides. These peptides are capable of blocking an interaction between paxillin and FAK, thereby inhibiting FAK activity related to FAK-paxillin interaction. The invention further provides uses for such peptides as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases characterized with FAK activity and/or expression (e.g., fibrosis).