Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying an effective agent that alters the association of a Bit1 polypeptide with an AES polypeptide. The method is practiced by contacting a Bit1 polypeptide, or active fragment thereof, and an AES polypeptide, or active fragment thereof, with an agent under conditions that allow the Bit1 polypeptide or active fragment thereof to associate with the AES polypeptide or active fragment thereof; and detecting an altered association of the Bit1 polypeptide or active fragment thereof and the AES polypeptide or active fragment thereof, where an altered association indicates that the agent is an effective agent that alters the association of a Bit1 polypeptide with an AES polypeptide. Such an effective agent can modulate apoptosis and can be a useful therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for and involving selectively targeting tumor lymphatics.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods related to clot-binding compounds. For example, disclosed are compositions comprising a surface molecule and at least one modified clot-binding compound. The modified clot-binding compound can selectively bind to clotted plasma protein, wherein the composition causes clotting and amplifies the accumulation of the composition in tumors. The modified clot-binding compound can enhance the clotting in tumors compared to its unmodified derivative. The disclosed targeting is useful for treatment of cancer and other diseases and disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide, which specifically homes to the intracranial, early stage astrocytoma model that grows as islets and harbors co-opted tumor vessels in the brain. The peptide finds its use in targeted delivery of therapeutic substances to invasive brain cancer or metastatic brain lesions as such and in combination with conventional therapies, such as surgery and radiation, and anti-angiogenic therapies, and as a tool in diagnosis of, e.g., invasive brain cancer or metastatic brain lesions.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods related to clot-binding head groups. The disclosed targeting is useful for treatment of cancer and other diseases and disorders.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for and involving selectively targeting tumor lymphatics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conjugate that contains a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing peptide or peptidomimetic which selectively homes to vasculature of pre-malignant dysplastic skin and which includes the amino acid sequence SRPRR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. The present invention further provides a conjugate containing a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing peptide or peptidomimetic which selectively homes to vasculature of malignant skin and which includes the amino acid sequence CGKRK (SEQ ID NO: 6) or the amino acid sequence CDTRL (SEQ ID NO: 7), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic of one of these sequences.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for targeting and internalizing molecules into cells of interest and for penetration by molecules of tissues of interest. The compositions and methods are based on peptide sequences that are selectively internalized by a cell, penetrate tissue, or both. The disclosed internalization and tissue penetration is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to cells and tissues of interest.

Abstract: A construct comprising a cancer-homing peptide, an optional linker and a cell-penetrating peptide coupled to an anticancer drug and/or a diagnostic agent is disclosed. The homing peptide is for example a linear pentapeptide such as CREKA (SEQ ID NO:1), AREKA (SEQ 5 ID NO: 23) or CREKA0 (SEQ ID NO: 23), or a cyclic nonapeptide CPGPEGAGC (SEQ ID NO:2), and the cell-penetrating peptide is for example one of the peptides SEQ ID NO:3-SEQ ID NO:20. The anticancer drug may be selected from alkylating agents, antimetabolites and cytotoxic antibiotics, and the diagnostic agent may be a fluorescent label. Further, a method of delivering an anticancer drug and/or a diagnostic agent into a cancer cell 0 comprising administration of a construct according to the invention in vivo or in vitro is described.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for targeting therapeutics to cancerous cells and tumors. The disclosed targeting is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to cancerous cells and tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bladder tumor-targeting peptide and use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bladder tumor-targeting peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 7 and use thereof. The peptide according to the present invention is capable of specific binding to bladder tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. The peptide according to the present invention or an antibody thereof is useful for a marker for the diagnosis of bladder tumors, and for a drug carrier targeting bladder tumor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conjugate that contains a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing peptide or peptidomimetic which selectively homes to vasculature of pre-malignant dysplastic skin and which includes the amino acid sequence SRPRR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. The present invention further provides a conjugate containing a therapeutic moiety linked to a homing peptide or peptidomimetic which selectively homes to vasculature of malignant skin and which includes the amino acid sequence CGKRK (SEQ ID NO: 6) or the amino acid sequence CDTRL (SEQ ID NO: 7), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic of one of these sequences.

Abstract: The invention provides a conjugate that includes a therapeutic moiety linked to a peptide or peptidomimetic that selectively homes to vasculature of premalignant pancreas. The peptide or peptidomimetic contains at least 5 contiguous amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from CRSRKG (SEQ ID NO:9) and CEYQLDVE (SEQ ID NO:34), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. The invention additionally provides a conjugate containing a therapeutic moiety linked to a peptide or peptidomimetic that selectively homes to pancreatic tumor cells and pancreatic tumor vasculature, the peptide or peptidomimetic comprising at least 5 contiguous amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from CKAAKNK (SEQ ID NO:15), CKGAKAR (SEQ ID NO:19), and VGVGEWSV (SEQ ID NO:35), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conjugate containing a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature. The invention also provides a method of directing a moiety to tumor lymphatic vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate containing a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of directing a moiety to breast vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate which contains a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to breast vasculature, whereby the moiety is directed to breast vasculature. In one embodiment, the homing molecule is a peptide containing the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO: 1), or a peptidomimetic thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides means and methods for vascular regulation through enhancement or inhibition of R-Ras activity. The invention specifically provides means and methods for promoting a quiescent state of a vascular cell by providing additional R-Ras activity to the cell. The invention further provides means and methods for diagnosing a condition of vasculature of an individual.

Abstract: The present invention provides tumor homing molecules, which selectively home to a tumor. The invention also provides methods of using a tumor homing molecule to target an agent such as a drug to a selected tumor or to identify the target molecule expressed by the tumor. The invention also provides methods of targeting a tumor containing angiogenic vasculature by contacting the tumor with a molecule that specifically binds an ?v-containing integrin. The invention further provides molecules that can selectively home to angiogenic vasculature. In addition, the invention provides a target molecule, which is specifically bound by a tumor homing molecule and is expressed by angiogenic vasculature. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to the target molecule and peptidomimetics that competitively inhibit binding of a ligand to the target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides tumor homing molecules, which selectively home to a tumor. The invention also provides methods of using a tumor homing molecule to target an agent such as a drug to a selected tumor or to identify the target molecule expressed by the tumor. The invention also provides methods of targeting a tumor containing angiogenic vasculature by contacting the tumor with a molecule that specifically binds an ?v-containing integrin. The invention further provides molecules that can selectively home to angiogenic vasculature. In addition, the invention provides a target molecule, which is specifically bound by a tumor homing molecule and is expressed by angiogenic vasculature. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to the target molecule and peptidomimetics that competitively inhibit binding of a ligand to the target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a tumor homing molecule that homes to angiogenic vasculature by contacting a substantially purified NGR receptor with one or more molecules and determining specific binding of a molecule to the NGR receptor, where the presence of specific binding identifies the molecule as a tumor homing molecule that homes to angiogenic vasculature. The invention also provides a method of directing a moiety to angiogenic vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate including a moiety linked to a tumor homing molecule that exhibits specific binding to an NGR receptor, whereby the moiety is directed to angiogenic vasculature. In addition, the invention provides a method of imaging the angiogenic vasculature of a tumor in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate having a detectable moiety linked to a tumor homing molecule that exhibits specific binding to an NGR receptor and detecting the conjugate.

Abstract: The invention provides a conjugate that includes a therapeutic moiety linked to a peptide or peptidomimetic that selectively homes to vasculature of premalignant pancreas. The peptide or peptidomimetic contains at least 5 contiguous amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from CRSRKG (SEQ ID NO:9) and CEYQLDVE (SEQ ID NO:34), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. The invention additionally provides a conjugate containing a therapeutic moiety linked to a peptide or peptidomimetic that selectively homes to pancreatic tumor cells and pancreatic tumor vasculature, the peptide or peptidomimetic comprising at least 5 contiguous amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from CKAAKNK (SEQ ID NO:15), CKGAKAR (SEQ ID NO:19), and VGVGEWSV (SEQ ID NO:35), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof.