Specific Targeting of Melanotic Cells with Peptide Ligated Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract A strategy combining covalent conjugation of photosensitizers to a peptide ligand directed to the melanocortin 1 (MC1) receptor with the application of sequential LED light dosage at near-IR wavelengths was developed to achieve specific cytotoxicity to melanocytes and melanoma (MEL) with minimal collateral damage to surrounding cells such as keratinocytes (KER). The specific killing of melanotic cells by targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) described in this study holds promise as a potentially effective adjuvant therapeutic method to control benign skin hyperpigmentation or superficial melanotic malignancy such as Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM)

Predicting ligand-dependent tumors from multi-dimensional signaling features

Cancer: Computational model predicts ligand dependent tumors The prediction of growth factor induced cancer cell growth was improved significantly by combining a signaling model with machine learning. A team led by Andreas Raue at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, attempted to better understand growth factor-dependent tumors and their potential treatment with receptor-targeting antibodies. Interestingly, prediction of tumor response improved significantly by adding prior knowledge from a mechanistic signaling model. This conceptually new approach relies solely on publicly available gene expression data and can be readily applied in drug development and development of clinical trials. In patient data, correlation between growth factor expression in the tumor microenvironment and its predicted response were identified. This consolidates the belief of an addiction of tumors to growth factors abundant in the tumor microenvironment, and might enable a more robust patient stratification in the future