PTPµ-targeted agent

PTPµ (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase receptor type Mu, encoded by the PTPRM gene) is a cell adhesion molecule that is frequently proteolytically cleaved in cancer, particularly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The PTPµ-targeted agent is a peptide-based molecule designed to specifically bind to the extracellular fragment of PTPµ that remains on the surface of tumor cells or is present in the tumor microenvironment. Developed primarily by researchers at Case Western Reserve University, notably Susann Brady-Kalnay, these agents are being developed for two main purposes: intraoperative imaging (when conjugated to a fluorophore like IRDye800CW) to define tumor margins, and targeted therapy (when conjugated to cytotoxic payloads or used to inhibit PTPµ signaling). The agent exploits the fact that PTPµ is specifically cleaved and redistributed in glioma cells compared to normal brain tissue, providing high tumor-to-normal contrast.

Other names

PTPµ-targeted fluorescent agentPTPµ-targeted imaging agentPTPµ-targeted therapeutic