Title:Targeting Tumors with Small Molecule Peptides
Volume: 16
Issue: 6
Author(s): Andrew G. Cheetham, Daniel Keith, Pengcheng Zhang, Ran Lin, Hao Su and Honggang Cui
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Tumor targeting, cancer, peptides, ligands.
Abstract: Chemotherapeutic treatment of cancers is a challenging endeavor, hindered by poor
selectivity towards tumorous tissues over healthy ones. Preferentially delivering a given drug to tumor
sites necessitates the use of targeting elements, of which there are a wide range in development. In
this Review, we highlight recent examples of peptide-based targeting ligands that have been exploited
to selectively deliver a chemotherapeutic payload to specific tumor-associated sites such as the
vasculature, lymphatics, or cell surface. The advantages and limitations of such approaches will be discussed with a view
to potential future development. Additionally, we will also examine how peptide-based ligands can be used diagnostically
in the detection and characterization of cancers through their incorporation into imaging agents.
