Combined targeted radionuclide imaging and targeted therapy – a way for precision treatment of prostate cancer

There is a clinical need to improve therapy of disseminated prostate cancer (PCa).

My program should provide scientific rationale for the use of theranostics (agents suitable for both diagnostic and therapy) for precision treatment of PCa.

The aim of my project is to obtain knowledge on structure-properties relationship permitting to design radiolabelled peptides for diagnostic, and peptides capable selectively deliver cytotoxic payload (therapeutic radionuclides, drugs) for therapy.

New peptides should target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), targets closely associated with PCa.

Using molecular design I plan to develop both monomeric peptides toward PSMA and GRPR and heterodimers capable to bind both targets. This is preclinical project with translational potential that requires multidisciplinary expertise.

Newly designed peptides will be synthesized, coupled with radioisotopes for diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy, and their in vitro and in vivo properties will be evaluated. Project team includes experts in medicinal chemistry, biotechnology, radiochemistry, pharmacy, and medicine.

Successful accomplishment of this program will provide new potential theranostics for PCa including disseminated androgen-independent PCa. This will make PCa treatment more personalized.

Radionuclide therapy of PCa using molecular targeting may be a precise alternative to currently used external irradiation that will spare healthy tissue.