Advancing theranostics with tumor‐targeting peptides for precision otolaryngology

Abstract

Worldwide, about 600,000 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are detected annually, many of which involve high risk human papilloma virus (HPV). Surgery is the primary and desired first treatment option. Following surgery, the existence of cancer cells at the surgical margin is strongly associated with eventual recurrence of cancer and a poor outcome. Despite improved surgical methods (robotics, microsurgery, endoscopic/laparoscopic, and external imaging), surgeons rely only on their vision and touch to locate tumors during surgery. Diagnostic imaging systems like computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron-emission tomography (PET) are too large, slow and costly to use efficiently during most surgeries and, ultrasound imaging, while fast and portable, is not cancer specific. This purpose of this article is to review the fundamental technologies that will radically advance Precision Otolaryngology practices to the benefit of patients with HNSCC. In particular, this article will address the potential for tumor-targeting peptides to enable more precise diagnostic imaging while simultaneously advancing new therapeutic paradigms for next generation image-guided surgery, tumor-specific chemotherapeutic delivery and tumor-selective targeted radiotherapy (i.e., theranostic).

Graphene oxide loaded with tumor-targeted peptide and anti-cancer drugs for cancer target therapy

“…11 , the cell viability of the NGO-PEG-HN-1 group is nearly 100% in three kinds of cells. It is indicated that the NGO-PEG is relatively safe and non-toxic to the cells, which is consistent with the previous reports 45 – 49 . For CAL-27 and SCC-25 cells, it was not difficult to see from Fig.…”

Novel Peptide NIRF Optical Surgical Navigation Agents for HNSCC

“…Small peptides can have equally strong affinity and specificity for targets, faster pharmacokinetics, and are less expensive than antibodies to scale up and develop [12,13,14]. Peptides based upon cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) have been identified that target integrins overexpressed on the surface of human HNSCC cells.…”