Preparation and evaluation of tumor-targeting peptide - Oligonucleotide conjugates

Enormous progress has been made in the development of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) as therapeutic agents inhibiting gene expression. Unfortunately, the therapeutical application of ODNs is still held back because of the low cellular uptake and the lack of specific transport into particular cells. In this paper, we report a drug-targeting system using somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) which are overexpressed in various tumors. Phosphorothioate ODNs were covalently linked to Tyr3-octreotate, an analogue of somatostatin. The peptide was assembled by solid-phase synthesis, oxidized to form the cyclic disulfide, and subsequently derivatized with a N-terminal maleimido functionality. 5'-Thiol derivatized phosphorothioate-ODNs directed against the protooncogene bcl-2 were conjugated to this maleimido-modified peptide. Binding studies revealed that the conjugates retain specific binding with nanomolar affinities to SSTRs (IC50-values between 1.83 and 2.52 nM). Furthermore, melting studies with complementary DNA revealed that the terminal conjugation of the ODNs did not significantly affect their hybridization affinity.This project was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ei 130/15-3). The authors would like to thank D. Keane and M. Wiersma for skilful assistance in ODN synthesis. Essential support for the establishment of receptor binding assays from Dr. Barbara Stolz, Novartis Pharma AG, Switzerland, is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewe

Peptide-PNA conjugates: Targeted transport of antisense therapeutics into tumors

Tumor-specific accumulation of antisense therapeutics: The conjugation of a receptor-binding peptide allows for the first time the selective transport of oligonucleotide analogues into tumor tissue. By using the tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protecting group stratergy, hybrids of peptide nucleic acids and peptides are accessible that accumulate in tumor tissue at a tenfold higher concentration than the free peptide nucleic acid.Peer reviewe

Integration of CT urography improves diagnostic confidence of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in prostate cancer patients

Background: To prove the feasibility of integrating CT urography (CTU) into 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and to analyze the impact of CTU on assigning focal tracer accumulation in the ureteric space to either ureteric excretion or metastatic disease concerning topographic attribution and diagnostic confidence. Methods: Ten prostate cancer patients who underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT including CTU because of biochemical relapse or known metastatic disease were retrospectively analyzed. CTU consisted of an excretory phase 10 min after injection of 80 mL iodinated contrast material. Ureter opacification at CTU was evaluated using the following score: 0, 0% opacification; 1, < 50%; 2, 50–99%; 3, 100%. Topographic attribution and confidence of topographic attribution of focal tracer accumulation in the ureteric space were separately assessed for 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT without and with CTU. Diagnostic confidence was evaluated using the following score: 0, < 25% confidence; 1, 26–50%; 2, 51–75%; 3, 76–100%. Results: At CTU, mean ureter opacification score was 2.6 ± 0.7. At 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT without CTU, mean confidence of topographic attribution of focal tracer accumulation was 2.5 ± 0.7 in total and 2.6 ± 0.7 for metastatic disease. At 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT with CTU, mean confidence of topographic attribution of focal areas of tracer accumulation was significantly higher with 2.9 ± 0.2 in total and 2.7 ± 0.9 for metastatic disease (p < 0.001). In 4 of 34 findings (12%) attribution to either ureteric excretion or metastatic disease was discrepant between 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT without and with CTU (n.s). Conclusions: Integration of CTU into 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT is feasible and increases diagnostic confidence of assigning focal areas of tracer accumulation in the ureteric space to either metastatic disease or ureteric excretion

Autoantigen-specific immunosuppression with tolerogenic peripheral blood cells prevents relapses in a mouse model of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) rendered suppressive by treatment with mitomycin C and loaded with the autoantigen myelin basic protein demonstrated earlier their ability to prevent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). This provides an approach for prophylactic vaccination against autoimmune diseases. For clinical application such DCs are difficult to generate and autoantigens hold the risk of exacerbating the disease. Methods: We replaced DCs by peripheral mononuclear cells and myelin autoantigens by glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®), a drug approved for the treatment of MS. Spleen cells were loaded with Copaxone®, incubated with mitomycin C (MICCop) and injected into mice after the first bout of relapsing-remitting EAE. Immunosuppression mediated by MICCop was investigated in vivo by daily assessment of clinical signs of paralysis and in in vitro restimulation assays of peripheral immune cells. Cytokine profiling was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Migration of MICCop cells after injection was examined by biodistribution analysis of 111Indium-labelled MICCop. The number and inhibitory activity of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells were analysed by histology, flow cytometry and in vitro mixed lymphocyte cultures. In order to assess the specificity of MICCop-induced suppression, treated EAE mice were challenged with the control protein ovalbumin. Humoral and cellular immune responses were then determined by ELISA and in vitro antigen restimulation assay. Results: MICCop cells were able to inhibit the harmful autoreactive T-cell response and prevented mice from further relapses without affecting general immune responses. Administered MICCop migrated to various organs leading to an increased infiltration of the spleen and the central nervous system with CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells displaying a suppressive cytokine profile and inhibiting T-cell responses. Conclusion: We describe a clinically applicable cell therapeutic approach for controlling relapses in autoimmune encephalomyelitis by specifically silencing the deleterious autoimmune response

Semi-automatic 3D-volumetry of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors to improve combination therapy with 177Lu-DOTATOC and 90Y-DOTATOC

PURPOSEPatients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET) often present with disseminated liver metastases and can be treated with a number of different nuclides or nuclide combinations in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) depending on tumor load and lesion diameter. For quantification of disseminated liver lesions, semi-automatic lesion detection is helpful to determine tumor burden and tumor diameter in a time efficient manner. Here, we aimed to evaluate semi-automated measurement of total metastatic burden for therapy stratification.METHODSNineteen patients with liver metastasized NET underwent contrast-enhanced 1.5 T MRI using gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Liver metastases (n=1537) were segmented using Fraunhofer MEVIS Software for three-dimensional (3D) segmentation. All lesions were stratified according to longest 3D diameter >20 mm or ≤20 mm and relative contribution to tumor load was used for therapy stratification.RESULTSMean count of lesions ≤20 mm was 67.5 and mean count of lesions >20 mm was 13.4. However, mean contribution to total tumor volume of lesions ≤20 mm was 24%, while contribution of lesions >20 mm was 76%.CONCLUSIONSemi-automatic lesion analysis provides useful information about lesion distribution in predominantly liver metastasized NET patients prior to PRRT. As conventional manual lesion measurements are laborious, our study shows this new approach is more efficient and less operator-dependent and may prove to be useful in the decision making process selecting the best combination PRRT in each patient

A New Peptide Ligand for Targeting Human Carbonic Anhydrase IX, Identified through the Phage Display Technology

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a transmembrane enzyme found to be overexpressed in various tumors and associated with tumor hypoxia. Ligands binding this target may be used to visualize hypoxia, tumor manifestation or treat tumors by endoradiotherapy

European Organization for Caries Research Workshop: Methodology for Determination of Potentially Available Fluoride in Toothpastes

Toothpastes are the most universally accepted form of fluoride delivery for caries prevention. To provide anti-caries benefits, they must be able to release fluoride during the time of tooth brushing or post brushing into the oral cavity. However, there is no standard accepted procedure to measure how much fluoride in a toothpaste may be (bio) available for release. The European Organization for Caries Research proposed and supported a workshop with experts in fluoride analysis in toothpastes and representatives from industry. The objective of the workshop was to discuss issues surrounding fluoride analysis in toothpaste and reach consensus on terminology and best practices, wherever the available evidence allowed it. Participants received a background paper and heard presentations followed by structured discussion to define the problem. The group also reviewed evidence on the validity, reliability and feasibility of each technique (namely chromatography and fluoride electroanalysis) and discussed their strengths and limitations. Participants were able to reach a consensus on terminology and were also able to identify and summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. However, they agreed that most currently available methods were developed for regulatory agencies several decades ago, utilizing the best available data from clinical trials then, but require to be updated. They also agreed that although significant advances to our understanding of the mechanism of action of fluoride in toothpaste have been achieved over the past 4 decades, this clearly is an extraordinarily complex subject and more work remains to be done