PCa-pep6

PCa-pep6 is a cyclic peptide identified through a "one bead one compound" (OBOC) combinatorial library screening approach for its ability to selectively bind to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. It specifically targets alpha-2 (ITGA2) and alpha-6 (ITGA6) integrins, which are overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. Developed by researchers at UC Davis and Johns Hopkins, PCa-pep6 has been evaluated as a molecular imaging agent in preclinical xenograft models, demonstrating selective uptake in pancreatic tumors with minimal accumulation in the liver. It serves as a lead compound for the development of high-affinity diagnostic and therapeutic agents for pancreatic cancer.