Abstract: In one embodiment, a death tag for targeting a cell death marker is provided, the death tag comprising a death marker binding domain; a reporter binding domain (RBD); and a reporter component that is associated with the reporter binding domain. In another embodiment, a method of determining the efficacy of a cancer treatment is provided. The method may comprise administering to a subject an effective dose of a death tag that targets apoptotic, necrotic or dead cells; exposing the subject to an imaging technique; determining that the cancer treatment is effective when the imaging technique detects the presence of the death tag. In another embodiment, an in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro method of determining the need for a treatment or determining the efficacy of a treatment in cell, tissue, and organ injuries.

Abstract: A method for treating cancer in a subject is provided, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective dose of a multidomain biotag that targets one or more cancer cells; and exposing the subject to one or more rounds of radiation. The one or more rounds of radiation kills the one or more cancer cells targeted by the biotag, but, in general, do not kill healthy cells or kills a negligible number of healthy cells.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a biotag for targeting a cancer biomarker is provided. The biotag may include a cancer biomarker binding domain, an internalization domain, an endosomal escape domain, a lysosomal escape domain, a reporter binding domain, and a reporter, wherein the reporter is a diagnostic agent. In some aspects, the cancer biomarker is ERBB 1-4, EGFRvIII or Transferrin Receptor (TfR). In other aspects, the binding domain is an scFv, an sdFv, a CDR or an SDR modified CDR. In some aspects, the reporter binding domain is a metal binding domain, which may be chelated to a metal nanoparticle tag. In some aspects, the metal nanoparticle tag is a noble metal, a superparamagnetic metal, a core-shell nanoparticle, or a fluorescent agent. In another embodiment, a targeted contrast composition for use with a diagnostic imaging technique is provided, which includes a contrast agent and a biotag for targeting a cancer biomarker.

Abstract: In another embodiment, a method for detecting and/or diagnosing a cancer in a subject is provided. The method may include administering an effective dose of a biotag to a subject, or alternatively, administering an effective dose of a targeted contrast to the subject, the targeted contrast comprising a contrast agent and a biotag as described herein for targeting a cancer biomarker. The method may further include exposing the subject to a diagnostic imaging technique; detecting a population of cells expressing the cancer biomarker; and quantifying the expression of the cancer biomarker in the population of cells, wherein an increased expression of the cancer biomarker indicates that the subject has cancer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a biotag for targeting a cancer biomarker is provided. The biotag may include a cancer biomarker binding domain, an internalization domain, an endosomal escape domain, a lysosomal escape domain, a reporter binding domain, and a reporter, wherein the reporter is a diagnostic agent. In some aspects, the cancer biomarker is ERBB 1-4, EGFRvIII or Transferrin Receptor (TfR). In other aspects, the binding domain is an scFv, an sdFv, a CDR or an SDR modified CDR. In some aspects, the reporter binding domain is a metal binding domain, which may be chelated to a metal nanoparticle tag. In some aspects, the metal nanoparticle tag is a noble metal, a superparamagnetic metal, a core-shell nanoparticle, or a fluorescent agent. In another embodiment, a targeted contrast composition for use with a diagnostic imaging technique is provided, which includes a contrast agent and a biotag for targeting a cancer biomarker.

Abstract: A method for treating cancer in a subject is provided, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective dose of a multidomain biotag that targets one or more cancer cells; establishing a vascular access in the subject; connecting the vascular access to a tube to establish an extracorporeal circulation of a bodily fluid; and exposing the extracorporeal circulation to one or more doses of radiation, killing biotag-targeted cancer cells.