title: Therapeutic aptamers: developmental potential as anticancer drugs.
abstract: Aptamers, composed of single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides that interact with target molecules through a specific three-dimensional structure, are selected from pools of combinatorial oligonucleotide libraries. With their high specificity and affinity for target proteins, ease of synthesis and modification, and low immunogenicity and toxicity, aptamers are considered to be attractive molecules for development as anticancer therapeutics. Two aptamers - one targeting nucleolin and a second targeting CXCL12 - are currently undergoing clinical trials for treating cancer patients, and many more are under study. In this mini-review, we present the current clinical status of aptamers and aptamer-based cancer therapeutics. We also discuss advantages, limitations, and prospects for aptamers as cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 410-769, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 410-769, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 410-769, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D009841:Oligonucleotides