Page 6 Drug and Gene Targeting Efficient Delivery of Agents to Molecular Targets The previous examples illustrate our approach to developing successful targeting schemes based on lectin-carbohydrate recognition for use in diagnostic imaging, drug delivery, and gene therapy. Future research will focus on the selection of appropriate carbohydrate mimetic structures for the delivery vehicle. The site density and 3-D presentation of the carbohydrate mimetic coupled with the overall size of the delivery complex (i. e. drug + delivery vehicle) will require optimization. Optimized targeting schemes will, thereby, be a significant technological advance in pharmalogical formulations for use in drug and gene delivery. References Alonsovarona, A., Y. Calle, T. Palomares, B. Castro, and E. Barberaguillem (1995), “A simple cell labeling technique by means of lectins linked to fluorochromes for the detection of cells on tissue sections”, Biology of the Cell 83(1): 87-92. Harris, J. D. and N. R. Lemoine (1996), “Strategies for targeted gene therapy”, Trends in Genetics 12(10): 400-405. Jacobson, B. S., D. B. Stolz, and J. E. Schnitzer (1996), “Identification of endothelial cell-surface proteins as targets for diagnosis and treatment of disease”, Nature Medicine 2(4): 482-484. Jain, R. K. (1996), “1995 Whitaker lecture: Delivery of molecules, particles, and cells to solid tumors”, Annals of Biomedical Engineering 24(4): 457-473. Kiely, J. M., M. I. Cybulsky, F. W. Luscinskas, and M. A. Gimbrone (1995), “Immunoselective targeting of an anti-thrombin agent to the surface of cytokine-activated vascular endothelial cells”, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 15(8): 1211-1218. Schumacher, U., E. Adam, S. A. Brooks, and A. J. Leathem (1995), “Lectin-binding properties of human breast cancer cell lines and human milk with particular reference to Helix pomatia agglutinin”, Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry 43(3): 275-281. Sujathan, K., S. Kannan, P. Remani, K. R. Pillai, B. Chandralekha, N. S. Amma, and M. K. Nair (1996), “Differential expression of jackfruit-lectin-specific glycoconjugates in metastatic adenocarcinoma and reactive mesothelial cells - A diagnostic aid in effusion cytology”, Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 122(7): 433-436. Yamada, N., Y. S. Chung, K. Maeda, T. Sawada, T. Ikehara, H. Nishino, M. Okuno, and M. Sowa (1995), “Increased expression of sialyl Lewis A and sialyl Lewis X in liver metastases of human colorectal carcinoma”, Invasion & Metastasis 15(3-4): 95-102.