Identification of Novel Medulloblastoma Cell-Targeting Peptides for Use in Selective Chemotherapy Drug Delivery

J Med Chem. 2020 Mar 12;63(5):2181-2193. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00851. Epub 2019 Aug 1.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is a malignant brain tumor diagnosed in children. Chemotherapy has improved survival rates to approximately 70%; however, children are often left with long-term treatment side effects. New therapies that maintain a high cure rate while reducing off-target toxicity are required. We describe for the first time the use of a bacteriophage-peptide display library to identify heptapeptides that bind to medulloblastoma cells. Two heptapeptides that demonstrated high [E1-3 (1)] or low [E1-7 (2)] medulloblastoma cell binding affinity were synthesized. The potential of the peptides to deliver a therapeutic drug to medulloblastoma cells with specificity was investigated by conjugating E1-3 (1) or E1-7 (2) to doxorubicin (5). Both peptide-drug conjugates were cytotoxic to medulloblastoma cells. E1-3 doxorubicin (3) could permeabilize an in vitro blood-brain barrier and showed a marked reduction in cytotoxicity compared to free doxorubicin (5) in nontumor cells. This study provides proof-of-concept for developing peptide-drug conjugates to inhibit medulloblastoma cell growth while minimizing off-target toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Child
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacokinetics
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism*
  • Peptide Library

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptide Library
  • Doxorubicin