Breast homing peptides and methods of identifying same using aminopeptidase P
The present invention provides a method of directing a moiety to breast vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate which contains a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to breast vasculature, whereby the moiety is directed to breast vasculature. In one embodiment, the homing molecule is a peptide containing the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO: 1), or a peptidomimetic thereof.
1. A method of directing a moiety to breast vasculature in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a conjugate comprising a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to breast vasculature, wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1) or CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2), whereby the moiety is directed to breast vasculature by said peptide.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2).
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said homing molecule is cyclic.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said moiety is a therapeutic agent.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said moiety is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said moiety is a cytotoxic agent.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said moiety is a detectable label.
9. A method of directing a moiety to breast vasculature in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a conjugate comprising a moiety linked to a homing molecule that specifically binds aminopeptidase P, wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1) or CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2), whereby the moiety is directed to breast vasculature by said peptide.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1).
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2).
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said homing molecule is cyclic.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said moiety is a therapeutic agent.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said moiety is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein said moiety is a cytotoxic agent.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein said moiety is a detectable label.
17. A method of imaging breast vasculature in a subject, comprising:
(a) administering to the subject a conjugate comprising a detectable label linked to a homing molecule that specifically binds aminopeptidase P, wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1) or CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2), whereby said peptide of said conjugate specifically binds said breast vasculature; and
(b) detecting said conjugate, thereby imaging breast vasculature.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1).
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2).
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said homing molecule is cyclic.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein said detectable label is a radionuclide.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said detectable label is selected from the group consisting of indium-111, technitium-99, carbon-11 and carbon-13.
23. A method of imaging breast vasculature in a subject, comprising:
(a) administering to the subject a conjugate comprising a detectable label linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to breast vasculature, wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1) or CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2), whereby said peptide of said conjugate specifically binds said breast vasculature; and
(b) detecting said conjugate, thereby imaging breast vasculature.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO:1).
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2).
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein said homing molecule is cyclic.
27. The method of claim 23 , wherein said detectable label is a radionuclide.
28. The method of claim 23 , wherein said detectable label is selected from the group consisting of indium-111, technitium-99, carbon-11 and carbon-13.