Tumor Targeting Peptides for Cytotoxic, Chemotherapy Delivery

Abstract : We have isolated of a panel of peptides that bind selectively to angiogenic tumor vasculature. This was accomplished by using in vivo screening of peptide libraries in nude mice carrying human tumor xenografts. We have used two of the peptides that showed the highest specificity to target doxorubicin, a commonly used anthracyclin drug, into tumors. The peptides increase the potency of the drug while reducing its toxicity. Dramatic differences in mortality between tumor bearing- mice that received the drug conjugate relative to tumor-bearing mice treated with the free drug or with control conjugate were observed. These results indicate that tumor vasculature expresses a number of potential receptors for tumor targeting and that it may be feasible to develop targeted compounds with improved therapeutic profiles for cancer treatment.