We have previously reported the use of one-bead-one-compound (OBOC)
combinatorial technology to develop a disulfide cyclic, Arg-Gly-Asp containing
octapeptide LXW7 (cGRGDdvc), that targets αvβ3 integrin with
high affinity and specificity (Mol Cancer Ther,
9:2714–23, 2010).
αvβ3 integrin is known to be over-expressed in many cancers and
in tumor vasculature, and it has been established as a cancer therapeutic
target. To further optimize LXW7, we have performed systematic structure
activity relationship (SAR) studies. Based on the results, two highly focused
OBOC peptide libraries were designed, synthesized and screened against
αvβ3 integrin transfected K562 cells. One of the best ligands,
LXW64 was found to have 6.6-fold higher binding affinity than LXW7, and showed
preferential binding to cells expressing αvβ3 integrin. In
addition to binding strongly to U-87MG glioblastoma cells in
vitro, LXW64 also targets U-87MG xenografts implanted in nude mice,
indicating that it is an excellent vehicle for delivery of cytotoxic payload to
tumors and tumor blood vessels that overexpress αvβ3
integrin.