title: The application of aptamers in cancer research: an up-to-date review.
abstract: Aptamers are nucleic acid ligands that are generated by molecular evolution to bind with high affinities and specificities to a large variety of targets, which make them attractive tools to be applied in cancer research. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in aptamer-based applications in cancer molecular research such as cancer targeting, biomarker discovery and therapeutics. Aptamers generated from cell-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment especially contribute to the discovery of novel membrane proteins as cancer biomarkers. Aptamer-nanoparticle conjugation could achieve higher affinity for cancer detection. Aptamer-conjugated nanocarriers deliver drugs to cancer cells with increased specificity and efficacy, as well as reduced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Meidi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Kunhe
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004337:Drug Carriers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering