Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay
12:19

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

Published on: May 1, 2015

Tumor Targeting via Integrin Ligands

Udaya Kiran Marelli1, Florian Rechenmacher, Tariq Rashad Ali Sobahi

  • 1Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Department Chemie, Technische Universität München , Garching , Germany.

Frontiers in Oncology
|September 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Targeted cancer therapy uses RGD ligands to target tumor cells by binding to integrin receptors. This approach enhances drug delivery and minimizes side effects for improved treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Oncology
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Selective drug delivery to tumors is crucial for effective cancer therapy and reducing side effects.
  • Tumor cells often overexpress specific receptors, distinguishing them from normal cells.
  • Integrin receptors, vital for cell functions, are upregulated on cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in RGD-based integrin ligand presentation for targeted cancer therapy.
  • To discuss the potential of RGD-targeted drug delivery systems in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on RGD-based integrin ligands.
  • Analysis of distinct drug delivery systems presenting RGD ligands.
  • Discussion of RGD-targeted tumor cell delivery strategies.

Main Results:

  • RGD ligands effectively target integrin receptors overexpressed on tumor cells.
  • Various drug delivery systems have been developed to present RGD ligands.
  • RGD-based therapies show promise for selective tumor targeting.

Conclusions:

  • RGD-based integrin ligands are promising for targeted cancer drug delivery.
  • Further development of RGD-targeted systems could significantly improve cancer treatment efficacy and safety.
Keywords:
RGDintegrinstargeted deliverytumorα5β1 and αvβ6αvβ3αvβ5

More Related Videos

A 3D Spheroid Model as a More Physiological System for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Differentiation and Invasion In Vitro Studies06:27

A 3D Spheroid Model as a More Physiological System for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Differentiation and Invasion In Vitro Studies

Published on: August 8, 2019

Intravital Microscopy of Tumor-associated Vasculature Using Advanced Dorsal Skinfold Window Chambers on Transgenic Fluorescent Mice08:52

Intravital Microscopy of Tumor-associated Vasculature Using Advanced Dorsal Skinfold Window Chambers on Transgenic Fluorescent Mice

Published on: January 19, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Integrins01:10

Integrins

Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...