Development of anti-EGF receptor peptidomimetics (AERP) as tumor imaging agent

EGFR is over-expressed in several solid tumors including breast, prostate, pancreas, and lung cancers and is correlated to the metastasic potential of the tumor. Anti-EGFR receptor-binding peptidomimetics (AERP) were examined to assess the small molecule’s potential use as tumor-specific imaging agents. The aim of this work was to design and characterize the binding specificity of the radiolabeled peptidomimetics to EGFR over-expressing cell lysate and to A431 xenograft tumors. Our newly designed peptidomimetic, AERP, was conjugated to DTPA and labeled with 99mTc. The in vivo tumor accumulation of [99mTc] DTPA-AERP-2 was 1.6 ± 0.1 %ID/g and tumor to muscle ratio was 5.5. Our studies suggest that this novel peptidomimetic, AERP-2, warrants further development as an EGFR specific tumor-imaging agent.

Graphical abstractIn certain human cancers, EGFR is over-expressed and is related to the metastasic potential of the tumor. We have developed two anti-EGFR receptor-binding peptidomimetics (AERP), as tumor-specific imaging agents. Our newly designed peptidomimetic, AERP, was conjugated to DTPA and labeled with 99mTc. The in vivo tumor accumulation of [99mTc] DTPA-AERP-2 was 1.6 ± 0.1 %ID/g and tumor to muscle ratio was 5.5.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide