Peptides that home to tumor lymphatic vasculature and methods of using same

Abstract

The present invention provides a conjugate containing a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature. The invention also provides a method of directing a moiety to tumor lymphatic vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate containing a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method of directing a moiety to tumor lymphatic vasculature in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a conjugate which comprises a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature, thereby directing the moiety to tumor lymphatic vasculature. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said homing molecule is cyclic. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide or peptidomimetic. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said homing molecule comprises the amino acid sequence GNKRTRG (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said homing molecule comprises the amino acid sequence GNKRTRG (SEQ ID NO: 2). 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said homing molecule comprises the amino acid sequence CGNKRTRGC (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said homing molecule comprises the amino acid sequence CGNKRTRGC (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said moiety is a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said moiety is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said moiety is a cytotoxic agent. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said moiety is a anti lymphangiogenic agent. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said moiety is a detectable label. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said moiety is a phage. 
     
     
         53 . A method of imaging tumor lymphatic vasculature in a subject, comprising
 (a) administering to the subject a conjugate comprising a detectable label linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature; and   (b) detecting said conjugate, thereby imaging said tumor lymphatic vasculature.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said homing molecule is cyclic. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said homing molecule is a peptide or peptidomimetic. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said homing molecule comprises the amino acid sequence GNKRTRG (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. 
     
     
         57 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said detectable label is a radionuclide. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said radionuclide is selected from the group consisting of indium 111, technetium 99, carbon 11, and carbon 13. 
     
     
         62 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A method of reducing the number of tumor lymphatic vessels in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a conjugate which comprises a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature, thereby reducing the number of tumor lymphatic vessels in said subject. 
     
     
         73 - 91 . (canceled)