MMPs, enzymes involved in tumor development, are expressed in the majority
of cancer. Targeting MMPs allows longitudinal studies of cancer as well as
therapeutic efficacy assessment. In this context, our partner is commercialising
a probe named MMPsense. Several probes exist to diagnose breast and prostate
cancers.

Cathepsin B plays a key role in the tumor development and is expressed in a
variety of tumor models. The probe designed to specifically target this molecule
is named Prosense (Cathepsin B).

Cathepsin K is more specifically and strongly expressed in the bone metastases.
It is therefore a marker of choice to target bone metastases originated from a
primary breast or prostate tumour.

Tumour growth is also characterised by the induction of new blood vessels formation
that will ultimately bring nutrients to the cancer cells. This process, defined
as angiogenesis, requires the specific expression of adhesion molecules on
endothelial cells: the integrins. Dedicated probes have been developed to target
these molecules: Integrisense. These probes specifically target the newly
formed blood vessels, formation promoted by the growing tumour.

Every cancer treatment aims at stopping tumour growth and/or killing the tumour
cells, for example by inducing apoptosis. A part of this cellular process can be
assessed by measuring the binding of Annexin V to the membrane phosphatidylserins.
With this objective, a specific probe has been designed by our partner:
Ennexin Vivo. Thus, this probe allows the in vivo quantification of the antitumour
treatment efficacy through the direct measurement of tumour cell death.