Compounds for targeting endothelial cells, compositions containing the same and methods for their use

A method of imaging an angiogenic site in a human or animal comprising:

• a) administering to said human or animal a composition comprising a compound of the formula (I):
• A-L-B (I)
• in which
• A is a monomer, multimer or polymer of TKPPR or a TKPPR analogue which specifically binds to NP-1 or cells which express NP-1 with avidity that is equal to or greater than TKPPR;
• L is a linker;
• and
• B is a substrate, where B comprises a detectable small particle;
• and
• b) detecting said small particle.

A method of imaging endothelial cells, tumor cells or other cells that express NP-1 in a human or animal comprising:

• a) administering to said human or animal a composition comprising a compound of the formula (I)
• A-L-B (II)
• in which
• A is a monomer, multimer or polymer of TKPPR or a TKPPR analogue which specifically binds to NP-1 or cells which express NP-1 with avidity that is equal to or greater than TKPPR;
• L is a linker;
• and
• B is a substrate, where B comprises a detectable small particle;
• and
• b) detecting said small particle.

A composition for imaging or treating a human or animal with prostate cancer which comprises a compound of the formula (I)

• A-L-B (I)
• in which
• A is a monomer, multimer or polymer of TKPPR, or a TKPPR analogue which specifically binds to NP-1 or cells that express NP-1 with avidity that is equal to or greater than TKPPR;
• L is a linker;
• and
• B is a substrate.