Synthesis and Biological Evaluation (in Vitro and in Vivo) of Cyclic RGD Peptidomimetic - Paclitaxel Conjugates Targeting Integrin alphaVbeta3

A small library of integrin ligand - Paclitaxel conjugates 10-13 was synthesized with the aim of using the tumor-homing cyclo[DKP-RGD] peptidomimetics for site-directed delivery of the cytotoxic drug. All the Paclitaxel-RGD constructs 10-13 inhibited biotinylated vitronectin binding to the purified alphaVbeta3 integrin receptor at low nanomolar concentration and showed in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines similar to that of Paclitaxel. Among the cell lines, the cisplatin-resistant IGROV-1/Pt1 cells expressed high levels of integrin alphaVbeta3, making them attractive to be tested in in vivo models. Cyclo[DKP-f3-RGD]-PTX 11 displayed sufficient stability in physiological solution and in both human and murine plasma to be a good candidate for in vivo testing. In tumor-targeting experiments against the IGROV-1/Pt1 human ovarian carcinoma xenotransplanted in nude mice, compound 11 exhibited a superior activity than Paclitaxel, despite the lower (ca. half) molar dosage used.