Targeting of Tumor Cells with Glutamine Containing Carriers

Simonetta Geninatti-Crich¹, Rachele Stefania¹, Lorenzo Tei², Alessandro Barge¹, Ibolya Szabo¹, Stefania Lanzardo¹, Carlotta Bianco¹, Silvio Aime¹

Efficient routes to accumulate imaging probes in tumor cells may be found by exploiting the up-regulation of trans-membrane transporting systems. In fact, rapidly growing tumors require an increased and continuous supply of aminoacids and other nutrients. Glutamine appears an interesting candidate as it is considered the main source of nitrogen for tumor cells. Thus tumor cells have been targeted with MR imaging probes bearing glutamine residues as targeting vectors.