TRANSFERRIN CONJUGATES FOR TUMOR TREATMENT

摘要

The instant invention provides compositions for inhibiting tumor growth or for imaging tumors in a subject and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, the composition comprises transferrin, the anti-tumor agent, and at least one other ligand that selectively binds to tumor cells, or to the endothelial cells of the tumor vasculature. Also provided is a method of inhibiting growth of tumor cells in a mammalian subject, particularly a human subject. The method comprises administering a composition of the present invention to the subject. Also provided is a method of visualizing tumor tissue in a subject. The method comprises administering a composition that comprises radiolabled transferrin operatively linked to a ligand that binds to tumor cells, or a ligand that binds to the endothelial cells of the tumor vasculature, or, preferably a ligand that binds to tumor cells and a ligand that binds to endothelial cells of the tumor vasculature, detecting the radiolabel, and visualizing the tumor tissue.