Development of melanoma-targeted polymer micelles by conjugation of a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) specific ligand

J Med Chem. 2011 Dec 8;54(23):8078-84. doi: 10.1021/jm201226w. Epub 2011 Nov 10.

Abstract

The incidence of malignant melanoma is rising faster than that of any other cancer in the United States. Because of its high expression on the surface of melanomas, MC1R has been investigated as a target for selective imaging and therapeutic agents against melanoma. Eight ligands were screened against cell lines engineered to overexpress MC1R, MC4R, or MC5R. Of these, compound 1 (4-phenylbutyryl-His-dPhe-Arg-Trp-NH(2)) exhibited high (0.2 nM) binding affinity for MC1R and low (high nanomolar) affinities for MC4R and MC5R. Functionalization of the ligand at the C-terminus with an alkyne for use in Cu-catalyzed click chemistry was shown not to affect the binding affinity. Finally, formation of the targeted polymer, as well as the targeted micelle formulation, also resulted in constructs with low nanomolar binding affinity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Azides / chemistry*
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Click Chemistry
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Melanoma
  • Micelles
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Melanocortin / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azides
  • Ligands
  • Micelles
  • Oligopeptides
  • Proteins
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4
  • Receptors, Melanocortin
  • melanocortin 5 receptor
  • Polyethylene Glycols