title: Peptide radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy.
abstract: Radiolabelled peptides are an emerging class of radiopharmaceuticals that share chemical and biological properties. From the chemical point of view they have a poly-amino acid structure varying from 3 to more that 200 amino acids, and they are labelled with different isotopes directly or by a linker. Biologically, they bind to specific cell membrane receptors, thus providing in vivo histopathological information for diagnostic purposes, therapy follow-up or targeted radiotherapy. This paper reviews most of the radiolabelled peptides that have been tested in animals and humans in the fields of oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation/infection, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. A new classification is also proposed for peptides targeting tumour cells based on the biological function of target receptors. These tailored radiopharmaceuticals are the basis of the new era of "molecular nuclear medicine".
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. alberto.signore@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Annovazzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chianelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corsetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van de Wiele
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Watherhouse
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals