Optimized carbohydrates for tumor targeting (for imaging)

The bleomycins (BLMs) are well-known antineoplastic agents, clinically useful in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas and malignant lymphomas. The carbohydrate moiety, particularly the disaccharide moiety, of BLM is also known to be highly tumor targeting. Researchers at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University have discovered disaccharides that target tumor cells more efficiently than the natural BLM disaccharide. Numerous highly specific disaccharide analogues have been produced and conjugated to an imaging agent or a reporter group. These disaccharides have been tested in several cancer cell lines including prostate carcinoma cells and showed excellent tumor targeting. These novel disaccharide analogs with their high specificity for tumors offer great utility as tumor imaging agents. Potential Applications Tumor imaging agents Benefits and Advantages More efficient tumor targeting than the disaccharide moiety of BLM Dowload Original PDF For more information about the inventor(s) and their research, please see Dr. Hecht's departmental webpage