Engineering Cell Permeable Constrained Peptides for Precise Targeted Alpha Radionuclide Therapy of Osteosarcoma

09 January 2026, Version 1
This content is an early or alternative research output and has not been peer-reviewed by Cambridge University Press at the time of posting.

Abstract

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive malignancy that often resists conventional therapies. Targeted α‑radiopharmaceutical therapy (TAT) provides a promising solution, offering potent localized cytotoxicity, reduced recurrence, and minimal acquired resistance. Mouse Double Minute 2 (MDM2), often amplification in osteosarcoma, serving as an ideal TAT target. Here, we present a TAT strategy that leverages the cell nucleus-enrichment capability of a 225Ac-labeled, MDM2-targeting stapled peptide for effective treatment of osteosarcoma. Rapid PET/CT-based screening enables precise identification of an optimized MDM2-targeting stapled peptide ligand (tumor uptake: 8.26 %ID/g; nucleus uptake fraction: 18.9 %). A single micro-dose (17 KBq) markedly suppressed osteosarcoma growth with satisfactory safety, resulting in growth arrest in over 50% of tumors without signs of recurrence. Mechanistically, the 225Ac-labeled stapled peptide rapidly triggers cellular stress programs in osteosarcoma and progressively induces the formation of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Our findings suggest that TAT represents an effective therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma, with MDM2-targeting stapled peptide serving as an ideal ligand for this approach.

Keywords

Osteosarcoma
Stapled peptide
Targeted alpha-radionuclide therapy
MDM2

Supplementary materials

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Supplementary Materials
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Experimental Procedures Radio-HPLC, radio-iTLC, and analytical HPLC information (Table S1 to S4) HPLC-UV chromatogram and MS data of stapled peptides (Fig S27 to S90) Radio-HPLC chromatogram and specific activity of stapled peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals (Fig S91 to S111) Table S5 to S6
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