INDUCTION OF E-SELECTIN FOR TARGETTING THERAPEUTIC AGENTS

摘要

The present invention provides methods and compositions for use in specifically targetting tumor vasculature endothelial cells, thereby delivering selected therapeutic and diagnostic agents to the tumor vasculature. The invention requires the induction of the molecule E-selectin in tumor vasculature endothelial cells, as may be achieved using ionizing radiation, which then allows the selecting to be targeted using specific binding compositions and selected agents. The invention therefore provides methods for delivering a selected agent to the vasculature of an animal or human subject comprising inducing E-selecting expression in vascular endothelial cells and administering to the animal a composition comprising an E-selectin targetting component operatively associated with or attached to a selected agent. The currently preferred methods involve E-selectin induction.