Peptide radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine 2001-10, Vol.28 (10), p.1555-1565
• Main Authors: SIGNORE, A, ANNOVAZZI, A, CHIANELLI, M, CORSETTI, F, VAN DE WIELE, C, WATHERHOUSE, R. N, SCOPINARO, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arteriosclerosis - diagnostic imaging; Arteriosclerosis - radiotherapy; Biological and medical sciences; Contrast media. Radiopharmaceuticals; Humans; Infection - diagnostic imaging; Infection - radiotherapy; Inflammation - diagnostic imaging; Inflammation - radiotherapy; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Nervous System Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Nervous System Diseases - radiotherapy; Peptides - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals - therapeutic use; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Thrombosis - radiotherapy
• ISSN: 0340-6997
• DOI: 10.1007/s002590100583

Radiolabelled peptides are an emerging class of radiopharmaceuticals that share chemical and biological properties. From the chemical point of view they have a poly-amino acid structure varying from 3 to more that 200 amino acids, and they are labelled with different isotopes directly or by a linker. Biologically, they bind to specific cell membrane receptors, thus providing in vivo histopathological information for diagnostic purposes, therapy follow-up or targeted radiotherapy. This paper reviews most of the radiolabelled peptides that have been tested in animals and humans in the fields of oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation/infection, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. A new classification is also proposed for peptides targeting tumour cells based on the biological function of target receptors. These tailored radiopharmaceuticals are the basis of the new era of "molecular nuclear medicine".