Innovative Diagnostic Peptide‐Based Technologies for Cancer Diagnosis: Focus on EGFR‐Targeting Peptides

Abstract

Active targeting using biological ligands has emerged as a novel strategy for the targeted delivery of diagnostic agents to tumor cells. Conjugating functional targeting moieties with diagnostic probes can increase their accumulation in tumor cells and tissues, enhancing signal detection and, thus, the sensitivity of diagnosis. Due to their small size, ease of chemical synthesis and site‐specific modification, high tissue penetration, low immunogenicity, rapid blood clearance, low cost, and biosafety, peptides offer several advantages over antibodies and proteins in diagnostic applications. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most promising cancer biomarkers for actively targeting diagnostic and therapeutic agents to tumor cells due to its active involvement and overexpression in various cancers. Several peptides for EGFR‐targeting have been identified in the last decades, which have been obtained by multiple means including derivation from natural proteins, phage display screening, positional scanning synthetic combinatorial library, and in silico screening. Many studies have used these peptides as a targeting moiety for diagnosing different cancers in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical trials. This review summarizes the progress of EGFR‐targeting peptide‐based assays in the molecular diagnosis of cancer.

Advancements in ovarian cancer immunodiagnostics and therapeutics via phage display technology

“…A VNAR antibody library from nurse sharks yielded antibodies binding to GPC3, HER2, and PD-1 ( 35 ), demonstrating phage display’s potential despite immunogenicity concerns ( 36 ). The phage display targets crucial cancer biomarkers and therapy targets like EGFR ( 37 ), its mutant EGFRvIII ( 38 , 39 ). The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), essential for angiogenesis, is targeted to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis ( 31 ), with phage display libraries from mice immunized against recombinant human VEGF ( 40 ).…”