Vascular zip codes in angiogenesis and metastasis.
In vivo screening of phage-displayed peptide libraries has revealed extensive molecular differences in the blood vessels of individual normal tissues. Pathological lesions also put their signature on the vasculature; in tumours, both blood and lymphatic vessels differ from normal vessels. The changes that characterize tumour blood vessels include selective expression of certain integrins. Peptides isolated by in vivo phage display for homing to tumours have been shown to be useful in directing therapeutic agents to experimental tumours. The targeting can enhance the efficacy of the therapy while reducing side effects. Phage screening has also revealed lung-specific vascular markers that promote tumour metastasis to the lungs by mediating specific adherence of tumour cells to the lung vasculature. These phage-screening studies have revealed a previously unsuspected degree of vascular specialization and provide potentially useful guidance devices for targeted therapies.
Ruoslahti
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The Burnham Institute, Cancer Research Center, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. ruoslahti@burnham.org
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019151:Peptide Library
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019151:Peptide Library