Figure 2.

Theranostic applications of the hybrid AAVP vector. AAPVs can be ligand-targeted to a tumor-specific cell surface molecule such as α_vβ₃ integrin [53] or GRP78 [59], followed by internalization of DNA and production of AAVP-coded proteins. The HSVtk transgene codes for TK, an enzyme that adds phosphate groups to thymidine analogues and converts (i) the prodrug GCV in the cytotoxic drug GCV triphosphate and (ii) [¹⁸F]FEAU in [¹⁸F]FEAU phosphate, which is retained intracellularly, allowing detection by PET imaging. Figure created with BioRender.com.