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Theranostics 2017; 7(9):2477-2494. doi:10.7150/thno.18879 This issue Cite

Research Paper

PSMA-Targeted Theranostic Nanocarrier for Prostate Cancer

Orielyz Flores^{1, 2}, Santimukul Santra¹, Charalambos Kaittanis³, Rania Bassiouni², Amr S Khaled⁴, Annette R. Khaled², Jan Grimm³, J Manuel Perez^5✉

1. Nanoscience Technology Center and Chemistry Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL, 32827;
2. Burnett School of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL, 32827;
3. Molecular Pharmacology Program and Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065;
4. Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, FL 32827;
5. Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, & Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles CA, 90048.

✉ Corresponding author: J Manuel Perez, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Department of Neurosurgery, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute & Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, Suite A8113, Los Angeles CA, 90048 Email: jmanuel.perezorg More

Abstract

Herein, we report the use of a theranostic nanocarrier (Folate-HBPE(CT20p)) to deliver a therapeutic peptide to prostate cancer tumors that express PSMA (folate hydrolase 1). The therapeutic peptide (CT20p) targets and inhibits the chaperonin-containing TCP-1 (CCT) protein-folding complex, is selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells, and is non-toxic to normal tissue. With the delivery of CT20p to prostate cancer cells via PSMA, a dual level of cancer specificity is achieved: (1) selective targeting to PSMA-expressing prostate tumors, and (2) specific cytotoxicity to cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal cells. The PSMA-targeting theranostic nanocarrier can image PSMA-expressing cells and tumors when a near infrared dye is used as cargo. Meanwhile, it can be used to treat PSMA-expressing tumors when a therapeutic, such as the CT20p peptide, is encapsulated within the nanocarrier. Even when these PSMA-targeting nanocarriers are taken up by macrophages, minimal cell death is observed in these cells, in contrast with doxorubicin-based therapeutics that result in significant macrophage death. Incubation of PSMA-expressing prostate cancer cells with the Folate-HBPE(CT20p) nanocarriers induces considerable changes in cell morphology, reduction in the levels of integrin β1, and lower cell adhesion, eventually resulting in cell death. These results are relevant as integrin β1 plays a key role in prostate cancer invasion and metastatic potential. In addition, the use of the developed PSMA-targeting nanocarrier facilitates the selective in vivo delivery of CT20p to PSMA-positive tumor, inducing significant reduction in tumor size.

Keywords: polymeric nanoparticles, peptide, PSMA, prostate cancer.

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