Development of a peptide-drug conjugate for prostate cancer therapy

Mol Pharm. 2011 Jun 6;8(3):901-12. doi: 10.1021/mp200007b. Epub 2011 May 3.

Abstract

TGX-221 is a highly potent phosphoinositide 3-kinase β (PI3Kβ) inhibitor that holds great promise as a novel chemotherapeutic agent to treat prostate cancer. However, poor solubility and lack of targetability limit its therapeutic applications. The objective of this present study is to develop a peptide-drug conjugate to specifically deliver TGX-221 to HER2 overexpressing prostate cancer cells. Four TGX-221 derivatives with added hydroxyl groups were synthesized for peptide conjugation. Among them, TGX-D1 exhibited a similar bioactivity to TGX-221, and it was selected for conjugation with a peptide promoiety containing a HER2-targeting ligand and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) substrate linkage. From this selection, the peptide-drug conjugate was proven to be gradually cleaved by PSA to release TGX-D1. Cellular uptake of the peptide-drug conjugate was significantly higher in prostate cancer cells compared to the parent drug. Moreover, both the peptide-drug conjugate and its cleaved products demonstrated comparable activities as the parent drug TGX-D1. Our results suggest that this peptide-drug conjugate may provide a promising chemotherapy for prostate cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / chemistry
  • Androgens / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Drug Stability
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Morpholines / chemical synthesis
  • Morpholines / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pyrimidinones / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrimidinones / chemistry
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Morpholines
  • Peptides
  • Prodrugs
  • Pyrimidinones
  • TGX 221
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen