The present invention relates to targeted delivery systems for delivering
therapeutic agents to tumor. The invention further relates to methods of
delivering a therapeutic agent to a tumor for the prevention and
treatment of cancer by killing tumor cells and tumor-associated
endothelial cells. In particular, the present invention provides a
tumor-targeted drug delivery system comprising a NGR-containing molecule
linked to a delivery vehicle encapsulating a therapeutic agent,
preferably a drug, such as a cytotoxic agent or a chemotherapeutic agent.
Specifically, the delivery systems of the present invention are capable
of delivering an increased amount of therapeutic agent to a tumor as
compared to other delivery systems. In particular, the delivery systems
of the present invention are capable of accumulating a higher amount of
therapeutic agent in a tumor, or in the vicinity of a tumor cell or
tumor-supporting cell, resulting in exposure of the tumor cell and
tumor-associated endothelial cell to therapeutic levels of the agent for
a longer period of time as compared to other delivery systems. The
present invention also describes pharmaceutical compositions comprising
the delivery systems of the present invention. The present invention
further relates to a tumor treatment comprising an increased amount of
therapeutic agent delivered by the system of the present invention as
compared to other delivery systems. The delivery systems and
pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to a subject, preferably
a human, alone or in combination, sequentially or simultaneously, with
other prophylactic or therapeutic agents and/or anti-cancer treatments.