Date of Graduation

8-2013

Document Type

Dissertation (PhD)

Program Affiliation

Biomedical Sciences

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Advisor/Committee Chair

Renata Pasqualini, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Wadih Arap, M.D., Ph.D.

Committee Member

Oliver Bogler, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Steven K. Libutti, M.D.

Committee Member

Nora M. Navone, M.D., Ph.D.

Abstract

Human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are rare tumors that form in the endocrine pancreas. Patients with these tumors have limited therapeutic options, and curative intervention is limited to surgical resection. These tumors do, however, consistently express somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) making them vulnerable to somatostatin analogs. Exploiting cell surface receptors overexpressed in tumors is a common avenue for ligand-directed delivery of imaging or therapeutic agents to tumors. In this regard, identification of novel ligand/receptor pairs with combinatorial peptide libraries has produced multiple candidates for clinical translation. Alternatively, here, we introduce a hybrid vector of adeno-associated virus and phage (AAVP) displaying a known, rationally chosen, biologically active peptide for the delivery of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Our ligand, octreotide, is a somatostatin analog with specific affinity for SSTR2 that is currently used clinically for both imaging studies and the relief of symptoms associated with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. When displayed in AAVP, octreotide mediates selective internalization of the viral particles after systemic administration. We validated the internalization and transduction capabilities of the octreotide-targeted AAVP in a neuroendocrine tumor cell line expressing SSTR2. Additionally, we confirmed AAVP homing and TNF expression in vivo in a transgenic mouse model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor development that mimics human disease. With further investigation, therapeutic gene delivery using the octreotide/SSTR2 ligand/receptor pair could represent a viable clinical alternative for patients lacking adequate treatment options.

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