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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Targeted Therapy | Review

Aptamers as an approach to targeted cancer therapy

Authors: Fatemeh Mahmoudian, Azin Ahmari, Shiva Shabani, Bahman Sadeghi, Shohreh Fahimirad, Fahimeh Fattahi

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Conventional cancer treatments can cause serious side effects because they are not specific to cancer cells and can damage healthy cells. Aptamers often are single-stranded oligonucleotides arranged in a unique architecture, allowing them to bind specifically to target sites. This feature makes them an ideal choice for targeted therapeutics. They are typically produced through the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) and undergo extensive pharmacological revision to modify their affinity, specificity, and therapeutic half-life. Aptamers can act as drugs themselves, directly inhibiting tumor cells. Alternatively, they can be used in targeted drug delivery systems to transport drugs directly to tumor cells, minimizing toxicity to healthy cells. In this review, we will discuss the latest and most advanced approaches to using aptamers for cancer treatment, particularly targeted therapy overcoming resistance to conventional therapies.
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Metadata
Title
Aptamers as an approach to targeted cancer therapy
Authors
Fatemeh Mahmoudian
Azin Ahmari
Shiva Shabani
Bahman Sadeghi
Shohreh Fahimirad
Fahimeh Fattahi
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03295-4

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