TUMOR-TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention relates to targeted delivery systems for deliveringtherapeutic agents to tumor. The invention further relates to methods ofdelivering a therapeutic agent to a tumor for the prevention and treatment ofcancer by killing tumor cells and tumor associated endothelial cells. Inparticular, the present invention provides a tumor-targeted drug deliverysystem comprising a NGR-containing molecule linked to a delivery vehicleencapsulating a therapeutic agent, preferably a drug, such as a cytotoxicagent or a chemotherapeutic agent. Specifically, the delivery systems of thepresent invention are capable of delivering an increased amount of therapeuticagent to a tumor as compared to other delivery systems. In particular, thedelivery systems of the present invention are capable of accumulating a higheramount of therapeutic agent in a tumor, or in the vicinity of a tumor cell ortumor-supporting cell, resulting in exposure of the tumor cell and tumorassociated endothelial cell to therapeutic levels of the agent for a longerperiod of time as compared to other delivery systems. The present inventionalso describes pharmaceutical compositions comprising the delivery systems ofthe present invention. The present invention further relates to a tumortreatment comprising an increased amount of therapeutic agent delivered by thesystem of the present invention as compared to other delivery systems. Thedelivery systems and pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to asubject, preferably a human, alone or in combination, sequentially orsimultaneously, with other prophylactic or therapeutic agents and/or anti-cancer treatments.