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Novel insights into the role of aptamers in the fight against cancer

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology volume 145, pages 797–810 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Aptamers are a class of single-stranded nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) oligonucleotides that are screened in vitro by a technique called systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). They have stable three-dimensional structures that can bind to various targets with high affinity and specificity. Due to distinct properties such as easy synthesis, high stability, small size, low toxicity and immunogenicity, they have been largely studied as anticancer agents/tools. Consequently, aptamers are starting to play important roles in disease prevention, diagnosis and therapy. This review focuses on studies that evaluated the effect of aptamers on various aspects of cancer therapy. It also provides novel and unique insights into the role of aptamers on the fight against cancer.

Methods

We reviewed literatures about the role of aptamers against cancer from PUBMED databases in this article.

Results

Here, we summarized the role of aptamers on the fight against cancer in a unique point of view. Meanwhile, we presented novel ideas such as aptamer–pool–drug conjugates for the treatment of refractory cancers.

Conclusions

Aptamers and antibodies should form a “coalition” against cancers to maximize their advantages and minimize disadvantages.

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Acknowledgements

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

Funding

The authors wish to acknowledge following grants for the support of current work: National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81673521; no. 81872942); National Science and Technology Major Project (no. 2018ZX10302-206); Key Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province (2015ZZ006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Yasen Maimaitiyiming, Chang Yang & Hua Naranmandura

  2. The Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    De Fei Hong

  3. Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China

    Hua Naranmandura

Authors
  1. Yasen Maimaitiyiming
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  2. De Fei Hong
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  3. Chang Yang
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  4. Hua Naranmandura
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Contributions

HN conceived and designed the study. YM is the major contributor in collecting, analyzing literature and writing of the manuscript. DFH and CY aided in the process of collecting and analyzing literature. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hua Naranmandura.

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The author(s) declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest regarding research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Maimaitiyiming, Y., Hong, D.F., Yang, C. et al. Novel insights into the role of aptamers in the fight against cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 145, 797–810 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-019-02882-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-019-02882-7

Keywords

  • Aptamer
  • Antibody
  • Cancer cell heterogeneity and plasticity
  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • SELEX