Identification of tumor affine peptides in head and neck tumors by display techniques

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Uwe Haberkorn; Professorin Dr. Christel Herold-Mende
• Subject Area: Pharmacy ; Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256151267

This proposal aims at identifying tumor affine peptides against head and neck tumors using high throughput techniques. These molecules will be used for imaging after labeling with radioisotopes or fluorescence dyes or for therapy after labeling with alpha or beta emitting isotopes or coupling to chemotherapeutic drugs. The identification of new ligands with affinity towards head and neck cancer is done with peptide libraries and based on phage or ribosome display and differentially expressed parts of tumor cell membranes. These tumor cell membranes will be isolated using a new proteomics technology. This proteomics technology will also be used at later stages for the identification of the target structures for the binding peptides. In case of newly identified target structures for head and neck cancer a characterization of their expression in a larger population of head and neck tumors is planned. The preclinical evaluation of the ligands is performed in binding studies in cell lines, tissues slices, biodistribution and imaging experiments in tumor bearing mice.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants