Fibulin-4 is highly expressed in metastatic breast cancer and can serve as a target of peptide-based imaging probes and experimental therapeutics

We have previously reported a cyclic peptide CRAGVGRGC (termed BLMP6) that homes to disseminating tumor cells in mouse cancer models and could be used for metastasis detection and intervention. Here, based on BLMP6 similarity to latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 4 (LTBP4), we discovered fibulin-4 as a BLMP6 target. We show that BLMP6 mimics the LTBP4 domain binding to fibulin-4 and selectively binds to fibulin-4 in vitro. Fibulin-4 knockout in mouse 4T1 cancer cells abrogated BLMP6 homing to lung metastases. Fibulin-4 expression was found to be increased in invasive and metastatic human breast cancer. AZDye555 fluorophore-labeled BLMP6 was developed as a reagent selectively binding to invasive and metastatic human breast cancer cells in tissue sections and homing to MDA-MB-231 metastases in mice. We show that radiolabeling BLMP6 with 68Ga can be used for the detection of MDA-MB-231 metastases. We designed a peptide-drug conjugate consisting of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and BLMP6 that preferentially kills aggressive cancer cells. Cytotoxicity of MMAE-BLMP6 against MDA-MB-231 tumors was confirmed in vivo. In an immunocompetent mouse model of B16F10 experimental lung metastases, treatment with MMAE-BLMP6 suppressed metastasis growth and improved survival. There was also a trend for metastasis suppression and survival improvement in the MDA-MB-231 experimental metastasis model. Our results suggest that fibulin-4 and BLMP6 may be further developed for the detection and targeting of metastatic human cancers. Statement of significanceThis study identifies fibulin-4 as a protein highly expressed in breast cancer metastasis. It evaluates the application of peptide conjugates targeting fibulin-4 in mouse models as non-invasive probes for metastasis detection and cytotoxic drug delivery.