Peptides that specifically bind HGF receptor (cMet) and uses thereof

1. A polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence: Cys-X 1 -Gly-X 2 -Pro-X 3 -Phe-X 4 -Cys (SEQ ID NO: 619), wherein X 1 , X 3 and X 4 can be any amino acid, X 2 is Pro; and wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to a detectable label for diagnostic detection of cMet.

2. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , comprising the amino acid sequence: X -3 -X- 2 -X -1 -Cys-X 1 -Gly-X 2 -Pro-X 3 -Phe-X 4 -Cys-X 5 -X 6 (SEQ ID NO: 540), wherein

X -3 is Glu, Ser, or Trp;

X -2 is Phe, Thr or Trp;

X -1 is His, Phe or Trp;

X 1 is Ala, Lys, Ser or Thr;

X 2 is Pro;

X 3 is Ser or Thr;

X 4 is Glu or Ser;

X 5 is Ile, Trp or Tyr; and

X 6 is Glu, Met or Tyr.

3. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , comprising the amino acid sequence: X -3 -X -2 -X -1 -Cys-X 1 -Gly-Pro-Pro-X 3 -Phe-X 4 -Cys-Trp-X 6 -X 7 -X 8 -X 9 -X 10 (SEQ ID NO:541), wherein

X -3 is Arg, Asp, Asn, Ile or Ser;

X -2 , is Leu, Ile, Phe, Trp or Val;

X -1 is Asn, Gln, His, Leu, Tyr or Val;

X 1 is Leu, Lys or Ser;

X 3 is Ala, Ser, Thr or Trp;

X 4 is Glu or Ser;

X 6 is Leu, Ser or Trp;

X 7 is Phe or Tyr;

X 8 is Asp, Glu, Gly or Val;

X 9 is Met, Pro, Thr or Ser; and

X 10 is Glu or Gly.

4. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , comprising the amino acid sequence: X -6 -X -5 -X -4 -X -3 -Trp-X 1 -Cys-X 1 -Gly-Pro-Pro-Thr-Phe-Glu-Cys-Trp-X 6 -X 7 (SEQ ID NO:542), wherein

X -6 is Asp, Glu or Val;

X -5 is Ala, Asp, Gly, Ser or Val;

X -4 is Asp, Gly, Ser or Val;

X -3 is Arg, Asn, Gly, Ser or Thr;

X -1 is Gln or His;

X 1 is Asn, Lys or Ser;

X 6 is Ser or Trp; and

X 7 is Phe or Tyr.

5. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , comprising the amino acid sequence: Ser-Cys-X 1 -Cys-X 1 -Gly-Pro-Pro-Thr-Phe-Glu-Cys-Trp-Cys-Tyr-X 8 -X 9 -X 10 (SEQ ID NO:546), wherein

X -1 is Asn, His or Tyr;

X 1 is Gly or Ser;

X 8 is Ala, Asp, Glu, Gly or Ser;

X 9 is Ser or Thr; and

X 10 is Asp or Glu.

6. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , comprising the amino acid sequence: Glu-X -5 -Gly-Ser-Cys-His-Cys-Ser-Gly-Pro-Pro-Thr-Phe-Glu-Cys-X 5 -Cys-X 7 (SEQ ID NO:547), wherein

X 5 is Ala, Glu, Gly or Ser;

X 5 is Phe, Trp or Tyr; and

X 7 is Phe or Tyr.

7. A method of detecting cMet or a complex of cMet and HGF in an animal or human subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

providing a polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 ;

administering to the subject the polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide; and

detecting the polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide in the subject.

8. The method according claim 7 , wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of a radioactive label and a paramagnetic label.

9. A method of imaging cMet or a complex of cMet and HGF in an animal or human subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

providing a polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 ;

administering to the subject the polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide; and

imaging the subject by detecting the polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide in the subject.

10. The method according claim 9 , wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic resonance imaging agent, an ultrasound imaging agent, an optical imaging agent, a sonoluminescence imaging agent, a photoacoustic imaging agent, and a radionuclide imaging agent.

11. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of a radioactive label, a paramagnetic label, a magnetic resonance imaging agent, an ultrasound imaging agent, an optical imaging agent, a sonoluminescence imaging agent, a photoacoustic imaging agent, and a radionuclide imaging agent.

12. The polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide according to claim 1 , wherein the detectable label is conjugated to the polypeptide or multimeric polypeptide via a linker.