Bernasconi
Fakultäten » Medizinische Fakultät » Kinderspital Zürich: Medizinische Klinik » Infektiologie, Abteilung » Prof. Dr. David Nadal » Bernasconi
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Development of targeting systems for improved drug delivery and imaging of pediatric soft tissue sarcomas based on tumor specific peptides | ||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Treatment methods for paediatric solid tumours generally include combination chemotherapy and combined modality strategies. Unfortunately, most metastatic solid tumours and high-grade malignant brain tumours remain resistant to treatment. Furthermore, many who survive childhood cancer experience treatment complications as adults. One of the biggest challenges of treating children with cancer is achieving complete remission, while ensuring that they will be able to lead normal, productive life in adulthood. We propose to improve the efficacy of existing therapies for paediatric sarcomas by developing novel targeting agents for therapy and imaging based on tumour specific peptides. We have identified several peptide sequences by phage display that bind specifically to rhabdomyosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Now, we will verify the therapeutic potential of these peptides by testing their biodistribution in vivo in mouse models. Next, we will optimize peptides that show a favourable biodistribution by increasing their stability, and their retention in tumour. Moreover, tumour targeting will be improved by identifying the molecular targets of the tumour specific peptides. Finally, we will test the optimized peptides for their ability to deliver a payload (chemotherapeutic or radiolabel) to tumours in mouse models, and we will test their potential for tumour imaging. This approach will represent an important step in improving therapies of rhabdomyosarcoma that will allow increasing success rate, while decreasing systemic toxicity and unwanted long-term side effects. |
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| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Foundation |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Apr 2008 to Mar 2009 |