Appeal 2007-0856
Application 09/281,474
BACKGROUND
“Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed”
(Specification 3). Angiogenesis is “an important component of a variety of
physiological processes including ovulation, embryonic development,
wound repair, and collateral vascular generation in the myocardium. It is
also central to a number of pathological conditions such as tumor growth
and metastasis, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.” (Id.)
“Integrins are a diverse family of heterodimeric cell surface receptors
by which endothelial cells attach to the extracellular matrix, each other and
other cells” (id. at 4).
The integrin αvβ3 is minimally expressed on normal blood
vessels, but, is significantly upregulated on vascular cells
within a variety of human tumors. The role of the αvβ3
receptors is to mediate the interaction of the endothelial cells
and the extracellular matrix and facilitate the migration of the
cells in the direction of the angiogenic signal, the tumor cell
population.
(Id.)
The Specification describes compounds “comprised of a peptide or
peptidomimetic targeting moiety that binds to a receptor that is upregulated
during angiogenesis, . . . an optional linking group, . . . and a metal chelator”
(id. at 8). The receptor may be αvβ3 (id. at 9-10).
“A ‘chelator’ . . . is the moiety or group on a reagent that binds to a
metal ion through the formation of chemical bonds with one or more donor
atoms” (id. at 57). “The metal chelator . . . is selected to form stable
complexes with the metal ion chosen for the particular application.
Chelators . . . for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are selected to form stable
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Last modified: September 9, 2013