Evaluation of RGD-targeted albumin carriers for specific delivery of auristatin E to tumor blood vessels

Bioconjug Chem. 2006 Nov-Dec;17(6):1385-94. doi: 10.1021/bc060087z.

Abstract

Induction of apoptosis in endothelial cells is considered an attractive strategy to therapeutically interfere with a solid tumor's blood supply. In the present paper, we constructed cytotoxic conjugates that specifically target angiogenic endothelial cells, thus preventing typical side effects of apoptosis-inducing drugs. For this purpose, we conjugated the potent antimitotic agent monomethyl-auristatin-E (MMAE) via a lysosomal cleavable linker to human serum albumin (HSA) and further equipped this drug-albumin conjugate with cyclic c(RGDfK) peptides for multivalent interaction with alphavbeta3-integrin. The RGD-peptides were conjugated via either an extended poly(ethylene glycol) linker or a short alkyl linker. The resulting drug-targeting conjugates RGDPEG-MMAE-HSA and RGD-MMAE-HSA demonstrated high binding affinity and specificity for alphavbeta3-integrin expressing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Both types of conjugates were internalized by endothelial cells and killed the target cells at low nM concentrations. Furthermore, we observed RGD-dependent binding of the conjugates to C26 carcinoma. Upon i.v. administration to C26-tumor bearing mice, both drug-targeting conjugates displayed excellent tumor homing properties. Our results demonstrate that RGD-modified albumins are suitable carriers for cell selective intracellular delivery of cytotoxic compounds, and further studies will be conducted to assess the antivascular and tumor inhibitory potential of RGDPEG-MMAE-HSA and RGD-MMAE-HSA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / chemistry*
  • Albumins / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Albumins
  • Drug Carriers
  • Oligopeptides
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
  • monomethyl auristatin E