title: Application of peptide nucleic acid in cancer therapy.
abstract: Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a DNA mimic with a pseudopeptide backbone composed of aminoethyl glycine units. Several features of PNA, such as superior hybridization affinities to RNA and DNA, high biological stability, and convenient solid-phase synthesis, make it a promising candidate for use as a gene targeting drug. Here we review the chemical and biological properties of PNA in relation to its potential as an anti-cancer drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry & Genetics, The Panum Institute, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010455:Peptides; D019098:Telomerase