Abstract: Methods of treating viral infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 and other diseases causing organ damage in a subject are provided. Treatments include administration of a targeted retrovector to the subject. Among the effects of these treatments is the lessening or prevention of complications of the disease, particularly those arising from pathogenic immune responses.

Abstract: Methods of treating a cancer in a patient are provided. The methods can include obtaining a tumor sample from a patient, detecting whether CCNG1 gene expression is present in the tumor sample, diagnosing the patient with a CCNG1 inhibitor-responsive cancer when the presence of CCNG1 gene expression in the tumor sample is detected, and/or administering an effective amount of a CCNG1 inhibitor to the diagnosed patient. CCNG1 inhibitors can include a viral vector having a binding peptide that is configured to bind one or more signature (SIG) elements of an invading tumor and at least one cytocidal gene. CCNG1 inhibitors including cell penetrating peptides are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating an individual with a chemotherapy-resistant primary and/or secondary malignancy that comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of a tumor-targeted retrovector encoding a cytocidal dominant-negative Cyclin G1 construct, such as DeltaRex-G, to the individual. Also disclosed are methods in which DeltaRex-G, either alone or in conjunction with other cancer therapies and/or treatments, may be administered to ameliorate or eliminate the life-threatening effects of metastatic cancer.

Abstract: Methods of treating a cancer in a patient are provided. The methods can include obtaining a tumor sample from a patient, detecting whether CCNG1 gene expression is present in the tumor sample, diagnosing the patient with a CCNG1 inhibitor-responsive cancer when the presence of CCNG1 gene expression in the tumor sample is detected, and/or administering an effective amount of a CCNG1 inhibitor to the diagnosed patient. CCNG1 inhibitors can include a viral vector having a binding peptide that is configured to bind one or more signature (SIG) elements of an invading tumor and at least one cytocidal gene. CCNG1 inhibitors including cell penetrating peptides are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing bifunctional fusion polymers or nanoparticles. These fusion polymers and nanoparticles contain two or more domains: (i) sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous lesions and (ii) domains that bind to pharmaceutical agents. The drug-binding functionality of these fusion polymers and nanoparticles is based on high-affinity, non-covalent interactions.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target and deliver agents to pathological areas by utilizing multifunctional compounds. These compounds include three or more domains: (i) a vimentin-binding peptide, (ii) a linker, and (iii) a drug binding, a capturing reagent, or a detectable moiety. These compounds can be used to detect, isolate, and/or treat cancerous cells such as circulating tumor cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing fusion polypeptides. These fusion polypeptides contain two or more domains: (i) aptamer sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous and viral lesions, (ii) immunomodulators, such as cytokines, and optionally (iii) at least one linker joining the two domains or at the terminus of the polypeptide. In some cases, the linker is a rigid linker, e.g., a rigid helical linker. Also provided herein are methods of treating cancer and/or infectious diseases using the new fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches methods of treating a patient who has an advanced metastatic cancer, after the patient has the patient has failed at least one treatment regimen for the advanced metastatic cancer, by administering a plurality of infusions of a vector comprising a tumor signature-targeting peptide and a nucleic acid that encodes a dominant negative human cyclin G1 construct. One or more of the patient's treatment regimens may have included gemcitabine. The present disclosure also provides methods of treatment by further administering to the patient an additional therapeutic agent such as an immune-modulatory monoclonal antibody, a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent, an anti-angiogenesis agent, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or a monoclonal antibody directed against specific features of cells from the metastatic cancer.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches methods of treating a patient having an advanced metastatic cancer by administering a plurality of infusions of a first therapeutic agent comprising a tumor-targeted gene vector that encodes a cytocidal inhibitor of the CCNG1 gene product and a second therapeutic agent that affects the activity of at least one additional molecular target along the CCNG1 pathway. The additional molecular target may be Mdm2, PP2A, p53, Rb, c-Myc, or a cyclin-dependent kinase. The present disclosure also provides methods of treatment by administering a plurality of infusions of a first therapeutic agent comprising a tumor-targeted gene vector that encodes a cytocidal inhibitor of the CCNG1 gene product and a second therapeutic agent such as an immune-modulatory monoclonal antibody, a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent, an anti-angiogenesis agent, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or a monoclonal antibody directed against specific features of cells from the metastatic cancer.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target and deliver agents to pathological areas by utilizing multifunctional compounds. These compounds include three or more domains: (i) a vimentin-binding peptide, (ii) a linker, and (iii) a drug binding, a capturing reagent, or a detectable moiety. These compounds can be used to detect, isolate, and/or treat cancerous cells such as circulating tumor cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing fusion polypeptides. These fusion polypeptides contain two or more domains: (i) aptamer sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous and viral lesions, (ii) immunomodulators, such as cytokines, and optionally (iii) at least one linker joining the two domains or at the terminus of the polypeptide. In some cases, the linker is a rigid linker, e.g., a rigid helical linker. Also provided herein are methods of treating cancer and/or infectious diseases using the new fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods of treating a cancer in a patient are provided. The methods can include obtaining a tumor sample from a patient, detecting whether CCNG1 gene expression is present in the tumor sample, diagnosing the patient with a CCNG1 inhibitor-responsive cancer when the presence of CCNG1 gene expression in the tumor sample is detected, and/or administering an effective amount of a CCNG1 inhibitor to the diagnosed patient. CCNG1 inhibitors can include a viral vector having a binding peptide that is configured to bind one or more signature (SIG) elements of an invading tumor and at least one cytocidal gene. CCNG1 inhibitors including cell penetrating peptides are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing bifunctional fusion polymers or nanoparticles. These fusion polymers and nanoparticles contain two or more domains: (i) sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous lesions and (ii) domains that bind to pharmaceutical agents. The drug-binding functionality of these fusion polymers and nanoparticles is based on high-affinity, non-covalent interactions.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing bifunctional fusion polymers or nanoparticles. These fusion polymers and nanoparticles contain two or more domains: (i) sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous lesions and (ii) domains that bind to pharmaceutical agents. The drug-binding functionality of these fusion polymers and nanoparticles is based on high-affinity, non-covalent interactions.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target and deliver agents to pathological areas by utilizing multifunctional compounds. These compounds include three or more domains: (i) a vimentin-binding peptide, (ii) a linker, and (iii) a drug binding, a capturing reagent, or a detectable moiety. These compounds can be used to detect, isolate, and/or treat cancerous cells such as circulating tumor cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing fusion polypeptides. These fusion polypeptides contain two or more domains: (i) aptamer sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous and viral lesions, (ii) immunomodulators, such as cytokines, and optionally (iii) at least one linker joining the two domains or at the terminus of the polypeptide. In some cases, the linker is a rigid linker, e.g., a rigid helical linker. Also provided herein are methods of treating cancer and/or infectious diseases using the new fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing bifunctional fusion polymers or nanoparticles. These fusion polymers and nanoparticles contain two or more domains: (i) sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous lesions and (ii) domains that bind to pharmaceutical agents. The drug-binding functionality of these fusion polymers and nanoparticles is based on high-affinity, non-covalent interactions.

Abstract: Systems for pathotropic (disease-seeking) targeted gene delivery are provided, including viral particles with extremely high titers. In particular, the viral particles are engineered to specifically deliver therapeutic or diagnostic agents to a disease site, such as cancer metastic sites. Personalized dosing regimens are also provided to treat diseases such as cancer efficaciously with reduced adverse side effects.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer. More specifically this invention is directed to a targeted retroviral vector comprising a cytokine gene that can be administered either alone or in combination with a targeted retroviral vector comprising a cytocidal gene for treating cancer in a subject. Also provided are a kit or drug delivery system comprising the compositions for use in the methods described.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer. More specifically this invention is directed to a targeted retroviral vector comprising a cytokine gene that can be administered either alone or in combination with a targeted retroviral vector comprising a cytocidal gene for treating cancer in a subject. Also provided are a kit or drug delivery system comprising the compositions for use in the methods described.