Abstract
Precisely localizing therapeutic agents in neoplastic areas would greatly improve their efficacy for killing tumor cells and reduce their toxicity to normal cells. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment modality, and near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF-I) is a sensitive and noninvasive approach for in vivo cancer detection. This review focuses on the current efforts to engineer single molecule constructs that allow these two modalities to be combined to achieve a high level of selectivity for cancer treatment. The primary component of these so called killer beacons is a fluorescent photosensitizer responsible for both imaging and therapy. By attaching other components, e.g. various DNA- or peptide-based linkers, quenchers or cancer cell-specific delivery vehicles, their primary diagnostic and therapeutic functions as well as their target specificity and pharmacological properties can be modulated. This modular design makes these agents customizable, offering the ability to assemble a few simple and often interchangeable functional modules into beacons with totally different functions. This review will summarize following three types of killer beacons: photodynamic molecular beacons, traceable beacons and beacons with built-in apoptosis sensor. Despite the rapid progress in killer beacon development, numerous challenges remain before these beacons can be translated into clinics, such as photobleaching, delivery efficiency and cancerspecificity. In this review we outline the basic principles of killer beacons, the current achievements and future directions, including possible cancer targets and different therapeutic applications.
Keywords: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF-I), photodynamic therapy (PDT), apoptosis imaging, singlet oxygen, quenching, activation, image-guided therapy, delivery
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Killer Beacons for Combined Cancer Imaging and Therapy
Volume: 14 Issue: 20
Author(s): Klara Stefflova, Juan Chen and Gang Zheng
Affiliation:
Keywords: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF-I), photodynamic therapy (PDT), apoptosis imaging, singlet oxygen, quenching, activation, image-guided therapy, delivery
Abstract: Precisely localizing therapeutic agents in neoplastic areas would greatly improve their efficacy for killing tumor cells and reduce their toxicity to normal cells. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment modality, and near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF-I) is a sensitive and noninvasive approach for in vivo cancer detection. This review focuses on the current efforts to engineer single molecule constructs that allow these two modalities to be combined to achieve a high level of selectivity for cancer treatment. The primary component of these so called killer beacons is a fluorescent photosensitizer responsible for both imaging and therapy. By attaching other components, e.g. various DNA- or peptide-based linkers, quenchers or cancer cell-specific delivery vehicles, their primary diagnostic and therapeutic functions as well as their target specificity and pharmacological properties can be modulated. This modular design makes these agents customizable, offering the ability to assemble a few simple and often interchangeable functional modules into beacons with totally different functions. This review will summarize following three types of killer beacons: photodynamic molecular beacons, traceable beacons and beacons with built-in apoptosis sensor. Despite the rapid progress in killer beacon development, numerous challenges remain before these beacons can be translated into clinics, such as photobleaching, delivery efficiency and cancerspecificity. In this review we outline the basic principles of killer beacons, the current achievements and future directions, including possible cancer targets and different therapeutic applications.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Klara Stefflova , Juan Chen and Gang Zheng , Killer Beacons for Combined Cancer Imaging and Therapy, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 14 (20) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707781389655
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707781389655 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Clinical Use of Intracoronary Gene Transfer of Fibroblast Growth Factor for Coronary Artery Disease
Current Gene Therapy Design of Lipophilic Prodrugs to Improve Drug Delivery and Efficacy
Current Drug Targets Recent Patents on Light Based Therapies: Photodynamic Therapy, Photothermal Therapy and Photoimmunotherapy
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Carcinogenesis and Integrative Therapy of Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design In Vitro Intestinal Co-Culture Cell Model to Evaluate Intestinal Absorption of Edelfosine Lipid Nanoparticles
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Pathways for Design of Novel Immune Therapeutics
Current Drug Discovery Technologies The Use of Metabolising Systems for In Vitro Testing of Endocrine Disruptors
Current Drug Metabolism New Insights of CTLA-4 into Its Biological Function in Breast Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets Apoptotic Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer – Therapeutic Application (Supplemental Data)
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews A Novel Assay Platform for the Detection of Translation Modulators of Spermidine/ Spermine Acetyltransferase
Current Pharmaceutical Design Chemokines and Persistent Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Hunting for Therapeutic Targets
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents Preclinical Models to Study Breast Cancer
Clinical Cancer Drugs Nanoliposome is a Promising Carrier of Protein and Peptide Biomolecule for the Treatment of Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Anti-Tumor Activity of Non-Nucleosidic Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Current Pharmaceutical Design Non-Invasive Monitoring of Hsp70 Promoter Activity Using Firefly Luciferase and Cell Viability of Three Tumor Cell Lines Exposed to Different Levels of Heat
Current Medical Imaging Cisplatin Resistance and Transcription Factors
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents Design, Development and Characterization of Topical Microemulsions of 5-Fluorouracil for the Treatment of Non Melanoma Skin Cancer and its Precursor Lesions.
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Allelic Imbalances of the egfr Gene as Key Events in Breast Cancer Progression – the Concept of Committed Progenitor Cells
Current Cancer Drug Targets Editorial: Adjuvant Systemic Treatment Strategy for Early Breast Cancer
Medicinal Chemistry Focal Adhesion Kinase as a Cancer Therapy Target
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry