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Lu L, Qi H, Zhu J, Sun WX, Zhang B, Tang CY, Cheng Q. Vascular-homing peptides for cancer therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 92:187-195. [PMID: 28544932 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past 30 years, a variety of phage libraries have been extensively utilized to identify and develop tumor homing peptides (THPs). THPs specifically bind to tumor cells or elements of the tumor microenvironment while no or low affinity to normal cells. In this regard, the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer therapy can be enhanced by targeting strategies based on coupling with THPs that recognize receptors expressed by tumor cells or tumor vasculature. Especially, vascular-homing peptides, targeting tumor vasculature, have their receptors expressed on or around the blood vessel including pro-angiogenic factors, metalloproteinase, integrins, fibrin-fibronectin complexes, etc. This review briefly summarizes recent studies on identification and therapeutic applications of vascular-homing peptides targeting common angiogenic markers or with unknown vascular targets in some certain types of cancers. These newly discovered vascular-homing peptides are promising candidates which could provide novel strategies for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Lu
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, PR China; Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, PR China.
| | - Huan Qi
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, PR China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Wen Xia Sun
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Chun Yan Tang
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, PR China.
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Liu R, Li X, Xiao W, Lam KS. Tumor-targeting peptides from combinatorial libraries. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2017; 110-111:13-37. [PMID: 27210583 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major and leading causes of death worldwide. Two of the greatest challenges in fighting cancer are early detection and effective treatments with no or minimum side effects. Widespread use of targeted therapies and molecular imaging in clinics requires high affinity, tumor-specific agents as effective targeting vehicles to deliver therapeutics and imaging probes to the primary or metastatic tumor sites. Combinatorial libraries such as phage-display and one-bead one-compound (OBOC) peptide libraries are powerful approaches in discovering tumor-targeting peptides. This review gives an overview of different combinatorial library technologies that have been used for the discovery of tumor-targeting peptides. Examples of tumor-targeting peptides identified from each combinatorial library method will be discussed. Published tumor-targeting peptide ligands and their applications will also be summarized by the combinatorial library methods and their corresponding binding receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiwu Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Xiaocen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Wenwu Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kit S Lam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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MENG DU, LIU RUI, PEI LI, HOU LEI, NING QIAN, YU QING, FENG LU, ZHAO XINHAN. Lentivirus vector-mediated gene transduction of CNGRC peptide in rat adipose stem cells. Mol Med Rep 2015; 11:2555-61. [PMID: 25482186 PMCID: PMC4337508 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.3043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of lentiviral‑mediated Cys‑Asn‑Gly‑Arg‑Cys (CNGRC) peptide gene transduction in adipose stem cells. Adipose stem cells were prepared using enzymatic digestion and repeated adherence methods and identified in culture by immunofluorescence staining of surface markers. The pluripotency of the cultured adipose stem cells was confirmed by their induced differentiation into bone and fat cells. Following polymerase chain reaction amplification, the gene sequence for the CNGRC peptide was cloned into a lentiviral vector, which was then co‑transfected into 293T cells with packaging plasmids Helper 1.0 and Helper 2.0. The lentiviruses carrying the CNGRC peptide gene were then harvested and used to transfect adipose stem cells. Following transduction, expression of CNGRC in adipose stem cells was detected using western blot analysis. Adipose stem cells in culture were successfully induced to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts and the lentiviral vector containing CNGRC‑3Flag‑EGFP was successfully constructed. Following transduction, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated expression of the CNGRC protein in adipose stem cells. This suggested that adipose stem cell lines expressing the CNGRC peptide were successfully established.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - XINHAN ZHAO
- Correspondence to: Professor Xinhan Zhao, Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China, E-mail:
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Powell Gray
- Department of Internal Medicine and The Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8807, United States
| | - Kathlynn C. Brown
- Department of Internal Medicine and The Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8807, United States
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Martín I, Teixidó M, Giralt E. Building Cell Selectivity into CPP-Mediated Strategies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2010; 3:1456-1490. [PMID: 27713313 PMCID: PMC4033992 DOI: 10.3390/ph3051456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2010] [Revised: 04/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a pressing need for more effective and selective therapies for cancer and other diseases. Consequently, much effort is being devoted to the development of alternative experimental approaches based on selective systems, which are designed to be specifically directed against target cells. In addition, a large number of highly potent therapeutic molecules are being discovered. However, they do not reach clinical trials because of their low delivery, poor specificity or their incapacity to bypass the plasma membrane. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are an open door for cell-impermeable compounds to reach intracellular targets. Putting all these together, research is sailing in the direction of the design of systems with the capacity to transport new drugs into a target cell. Some CPPs show cell type specificity while others require modifications or form part of more sophisticated drug delivery systems. In this review article we summarize several strategies for directed drug delivery involving CPPs that have been reported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martín
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac 10, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Meritxell Teixidó
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac 10, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ernest Giralt
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac 10, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, Barcelona, Spain.
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Curnis F, Cattaneo A, Longhi R, Sacchi A, Gasparri AM, Pastorino F, Di Matteo P, Traversari C, Bachi A, Ponzoni M, Rizzardi GP, Corti A. Critical role of flanking residues in NGR-to-isoDGR transition and CD13/integrin receptor switching. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:9114-23. [PMID: 20064928 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.044297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Various NGR-containing peptides have been exploited for targeted delivery of drugs to CD13-positive tumor neovasculature. Recent studies have shown that compounds containing this motif can rapidly deamidate and generate isoaspartate-glycine-arginine (isoDGR), a ligand of alphavbeta3-integrin that can be also exploited for drug delivery to tumors. We have investigated the role of NGR and isoDGR peptide scaffolds on their biochemical and biological properties. Peptides containing the cyclic CNGRC sequence could bind CD13-positive endothelial cells more efficiently than those containing linear GNGRG. Peptide degradation studies showed that cyclic peptides mostly undergo NGR-to-isoDGR transition and CD13/integrin switching, whereas linear peptides mainly undergo degradation reactions involving the alpha-amino group, which generate non-functional six/seven-membered ring compounds, unable to bind alphavbeta3, and small amount of isoDGR. Structure-activity studies showed that cyclic isoDGR could bind alphavbeta3 with an affinity >100-fold higher than that of linear isoDGR and inhibited endothelial cell adhesion and tumor growth more efficiently. Cyclic isoDGR could also bind other integrins (alphavbeta5, alphavbeta6, alphavbeta8, and alpha5beta1), although with 10-100-fold lower affinity. Peptide linearization caused loss of affinity for all integrins and loss of specificity, whereas alpha-amino group acetylation increased the affinity for all tested integrins, but caused loss of specificity. These results highlight the critical role of molecular scaffold on the biological properties of NGR/isoDGR peptides. These findings may have important implications for the design and development of anticancer drugs or tumor neovasculature-imaging compounds, and for the potential function of different NGR/isoDGR sites in natural proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Curnis
- Division of Molecular Oncology and IIT Network Research Unit of Molecular Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan
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Curnis F, Sacchi A, Gasparri A, Longhi R, Bachi A, Doglioni C, Bordignon C, Traversari C, Rizzardi GP, Corti A. Isoaspartate-glycine-arginine: a new tumor vasculature-targeting motif. Cancer Res 2008; 68:7073-82. [PMID: 18757422 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Asparagine deamidation in peptides or in fibronectin fragments containing the asparagine-glycine-arginine sequence generates isoaspartate-glycine-arginine (isoDGR), a new alphavbeta3 integrin-binding motif. Because alphavbeta3 is expressed in angiogenic vessels, we hypothesized that isoDGR-containing peptides could be exploited as ligands for targeted delivery of drugs to tumor neovasculature. We found that a cyclic CisoDGRC peptide coupled to fluorescent nanoparticles (quantum dots) could bind alphavbeta3 integrin and colocalize with anti-CD31, anti-alphavbeta3, and anti-alpha5beta1 antibodies in human renal cell carcinoma tissue sections, indicating that this peptide could efficiently recognize endothelial cells of angiogenic vessels. Using CisoDGRC fused to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) we observed that ultralow doses (1-10 pg) of this product (called isoDGR-TNF), but not of TNF or CDGRC-TNF fusion protein, were sufficient to induce antitumor effects when administered alone or in combination with chemotherapy to tumor-bearing mice. The antitumor activity of isoDGR-TNF was efficiently inhibited by coadministration with an excess of free CisoDGRC, as expected for ligand-directed targeting mechanisms. These results suggest that isoDGR is a novel tumor vasculature-targeting motif. Peptides containing isoDGR could be exploited as ligands for targeted delivery of drugs, imaging agents, or other compounds to tumor vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Curnis
- Department of Biological and Technological Research, CIGT Program and IIT Network Research Unit of Molecular Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that peptides containing the Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) motif can selectively recognize tumor neovasculature and can be used, therefore, for ligand-directed targeted delivery of various drugs and particles to tumors or to other tissues with an angiogenesis component. The neovasculature binding properties of these peptides rely on the interaction with an endothelium-associated form of aminopeptidase N (CD13), an enzyme that has been implicated in angiogenesis and tumor growth. Recent studies have shown that NGR can rapidly convert to isoaspartate-glycine-arginine (isoDGR) by asparagine deamidation, generating alpha(v)beta(3) ligands capable of affecting endothelial cell functions and tumor growth. This review focuses on structural and functional properties of the NGR motif and its application in drug development for angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the time-dependent transition of NGR to isoDGR in natural proteins, such as fibronectins, and its potential role of as a "molecular timer" for generating new binding sites for integrins impli-cated in angiogenesis.
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Meng J, Yan Z, Wu Y, Gao M, Li W, Gao F, Wang H, Han W, Zhang Y. Preclinical safety evaluation of IFNα2a-NGR. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008; 50:294-302. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2007.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2007] [Revised: 10/24/2007] [Accepted: 10/27/2007] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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You Y, Xue X, Li M, Qin X, Zhang C, Wang W, Giang C, Wu S, Liu Y, Zhu W, Ran Y, Zhang Z, Han W, Zhang Y. Inhibition effect of pcDNA-tum-5 on the growth of S180 tumor. Cytotechnology 2007; 56:97-104. [PMID: 19002847 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-007-9117-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2007] [Accepted: 12/18/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor growth and metastasis depend on vessel formation, and inhibition of angiogenesis of tumor by production of anti-angiogenic drugs should be a promising approach for cancer therapy. Tumstatin is an angiogenesis inhibitor. The anti-angiogenic activity of tumstatin is localized to the 54-132 amino acids. The gene fragment encoding amino acids 45-132 of tumstatin (tum-5) was subcloned into pcDNA3.1 (pcDNA-tum5). Tum-5 protein could be expressed and secreted in CHO cells after transfection. The conditioned medium (containing tum-5 protein) from the transfectant has an anti-angiogenic effect on HUVEC cells in vitro. The anti-tumor effect of pcDNA-tum5 on mice bearing S180 tumors was evaluated. The results showed that pcDNA-tum-5 has a significant inhibition activity in the growth of the tumors. This study suggests that the gene delivery of tum-5 may be an effective strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie You
- Biotechnology Center of The Fourth Military Medical University, 17 Changle West Road, 710032, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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