Targeting Tumor Markers with Antisense Peptides: An Example of Human Prostate Specific Antigen

• Main Authors: Nikola Štambuk, Paško Konjevoda, Petra Turčić, Hrvoje Šošić, Gorana Aralica, Damir Babić, Sven Seiwerth, Željko Kaštelan, Renata Novak Kujundžić, Piotr Wardega, Jelena Barać Žutelija, Ana Gudelj Gračanin, Mario Gabričević
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: neoplasm; prostate specific antigen; biomarker; antisense peptide; immunohistochemistry; nanomedicine
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/9/2090

The purpose of this paper was to outline the development of short peptide targeting of the human prostate specific antigen (hPSA), and to evaluate its effectiveness in staining PSA in human prostate cancer tissue. The targeting of the hPSA antigen by means of antisense peptide AVRDKVG was designed according to a three-step method involving: 1. The selection of the molecular target (hPSA epitope), 2. the modeling of an antisense peptide (paratope) based on the epitope sequence, and 3. the spectroscopic evaluation of sense−antisense peptide binding. We then modified standard hPSA immunohistochemical staining practice by using a biotinylated antisense peptide instead of the standard monoclonal antibody and compared the results of both procedures. Immunochemical testing on human tissue showed the applicability of the antisense peptide technology to human molecular targets. This methodology represents a new approach to deriving peptide ligands and potential lead compounds for the development of novel diagnostic substances, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.