Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to cancer therapy and to anticancer compounds and imaging agents. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to agents that target MC1R and their use in the treatment of cancer. Methods of screening for MC1R targeted agents are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a reporter system comprising (i) a gene expression construct for expression in a cell of a reporter gene, said reporter gene encoding a fusion protein comprising a transmembrane domain fused in-frame to a reporter domain, wherein said transmembrane domain upon insertion of the fusion protein into the cell membrane anchors the fusion protein in the cell membrane while expressing the reporter domain at the cell surface, and (ii) a reporter peptide labeled with a radiolabel, wherein said reporter domain comprises the large polypeptide subunit of a split luciferase, and wherein said reporter peptide comprises the small peptide subunit of said split luciferase, wherein both subunits associate by complementation to assemble into a luciferase complex.

The present invention is related to a compound comprising a cyclic peptide of formula (I)

##STR00001## and an N-terminal modification group A attached to Xaa1, wherein each and any one of Xaa1, Xaa2, Xaa3, Xaa4, Xaa5, Xaa6 and Xaa7 is a residue of an amino acid, and Yc is a structure of formula (X)

##STR00002##

Compounds (such as peptides or peptide mimetics) that bind to HIV RRE RNA are provided. In some examples, the compounds inhibit (for example, decrease) binding of Rev to the RRE RNA. In some embodiments, the compounds include two moieties, each of which bind to one of the Rev binding sites in the RRE. In some examples, the moieties include peptides or small molecules. In some examples, the peptides include an arginine-rich motif. The RRE binding compounds may be further linked to a detectable label or cargo moiety. Also provided are methods of treating or inhibiting HIV including administering one or more of the RRE binding compounds to a subject.

Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

A cancer targeting composition, kit, and method for treatment of cancer cells overexpressing somatostatin receptors is disclosed. The composition includes a radioisotope, a chelator, and a targeting moiety. The chelator includes a nitrogen ring structure including a tetraazacyclododecane, a triazacyclononane, and/or a tetraazabicyclo [6.6.2] hexadecane derivative. The targeting moiety includes a somatostatin receptor targeting peptide. The somatostatin receptor targeting peptide includes an octreotide derivative. The targeting moiety is chelated to the radioisotope by the chelator whereby the cancer cells are targeted for elimination.

The present disclosure relates to radionuclide complex solutions of high concentration and of high chemical stability, that allows their use as drug product for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. The stability of the drug product is achieved by at least one stabilizer against radiolytic degradation. The use of two stabilizers introduced during the manufacturing process at different stages was found to be of particular advantage.

The present invention relates to methods for radiolabelling GRPR antagonists such as NeoB, and their kits. In particular, the invention to a method for labeling a gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) antagonist with a radioactive isotope, preferably .sup.68Ga, .sup.67Ga or .sup.64Cu, said method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first vial comprising said GRPR antagonist in dried form, ii. adding a solution of said radioactive isotope into said first vial, thereby obtaining a solution of said GRPR antagonist with said radioactive isotope, iii. mixing the solution obtained in ii. with at least a buffering agent and incubating it for a sufficient period of time for obtaining said GRPR antagonist labeled with said radioactive isotope, and, iv. optionally, adjusting the pH of the solution.

The invention relates to water soluble .sup.18F-prosthetic groups and the synthesis and use of .sup.18F-labeled biological molecules containing the .sup.18F-prosthetic groups for imaging various processes within the body, for detecting the location of molecules associated with disease pathology, and for monitoring disease progression are disclosed.