Patent ID: 8623822

Claim:
A method for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment protocol comprising: (a) administering an ultrasound contrast agent comprising a gas filled microvesicle and one or more KDR binding peptides selected from the group consisting of: AGPKWCEEDWYYCMITGTGGGK, (SEQ ID NO: 264) GDSRVCWEDSWGGEVCFRYDPGGGK, (SEQ ID NO: 294) AQDWYYDEILSMADQLRHAFLSGGK, (SEQ ID NO: 310) AGPTWCEDDWYYCWLFGTGGGK, (SEQ ID NO: 277) AGDWWVECRVGTGLCYRYDTGTGGGK, (SEQ ID NO: 286) AGPTWCADDWYYCWLFGTGGGK, (SEQ ID NO: 390) and VCWEDSWGGEVCFRYDPGGGK, (SEQ ID NO 337) or a KDR-binding dimer selected from the group consisting of D5, D6, and D23, to a subject with a cell hyperproliferation or angiogenesis disorder associated with KDR expression; (b) obtaining an initial image of a KDR expressing cell or tissue in the subject; (c) administering a therapeutic agent appropriate for the treatment of the disorder; (d) obtaining a subsequent image of said KDR expressing cell or tissue in the subject; and (e) comparing the initial and the subsequent images to determine the increase or decrease in KDR binding, thereby evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment therapy.