# Development of a targeted delivery platform for checkpoint inhibitors

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY · 2020 · $354,563

## Abstract

Abstract
 The goal of this proposed research is to develop a targeted delivery platform for checkpoint
inhibitors. The platform will contain a targeting ligand, an enzyme-responsive linker, and a peptide-
based checkpoint inhibitor. We recently discovered several peptide-based PD-L1 inhibitors that can be
potentially used for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we will evaluate the platform in an advanced
prostate cancer model. Particularly, we propose to link a PSMA-specific ligand to the anti-PD-L1
peptides via a PSA-cleavable linker.
 The overall objectives of this project are: 1) to develop a targeted anti-PD-L1 peptide for cancer
immunotherapy; 2) to evaluate its therapeutic effect using humanized mice implanted with human
castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. The long-term goal of the project is to develop a
targeted peptide-based platform for cancer immunotherapy. Our central hypothesis is that cancer
growth and metastasis can be effectively inhibited by targeted delivery of anti-PD-L1 peptides to cancer
cells.
 At the completion of this project, we expect to pave the way for the future development of a targeted
PD-L1 inhibitor for cancer immunotherapy. Successful completion of the proposed studies is also
expected to provide a peptide-based platform (by changing the targeting ligand and the tissue-specific
linker) for other peptide-based checkpoint inhibitors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980337
- **Project number:** 5R01CA231099-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kun Cheng
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $354,563
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980337

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980337, Development of a targeted delivery platform for checkpoint inhibitors (5R01CA231099-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980337. Licensed CC0.

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