Targeting Prostate Vasculture
Abstract
We proposed to identify peptides that home to the vasculature of prostate. Peptides capable of homing to the prostate vasculature may allow imaging of the prostate for diagnostic purposes. They will also make it possible to direct into the prostate treatments that can reduce the prostate's size and, therefore, reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Over the course of this grant, we identified a peptide that homes specifically to mouse prostate tissue (SMSIARL) and we synthesized a chimeric peptide comprised of an anti-bacterial pep tide (KLAKLAK)2 in a D-amino acid configuration coupled to SMSIARL. We have shown in other work that, when targeted to tumor angiogenesis, the proapoptotic peptide triggers apoptosis in the angiogenic endothelial cells in tumor vasculature suppressing tumor growth (Ellerby et al., 1999). The prostate-targeted proapoptotic peptide chimera has a similar effect in the prostate. We are continuing this work by attempting to show that reducing the size of the prostate can reduce or delay the incidence of prostate cancer in the prostate-cancer prone transgenic TRAMP mice. In sum, we have discovered an effective prostate-homing pep tide. It is specific for the prostate vasculature, and it can direct a therapeutic compound (a proapoptotic peptide) into the prostate and effect the organ's shrinkage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADB279651
Entities
People
- Erkki Ruoslahti
Organizations
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute