Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
14:20

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

Published on: June 13, 2014

Progress in the development of nucleic acid therapeutics for cancer

Anna Kalota1, Susan E Shetzline, Alan M Gewirtz

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Cancer Biology & Therapy
|January 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Gene silencing agents offer targeted cancer therapy by inhibiting abnormal gene expression. This review focuses on messenger RNA (mRNA) targeting strategies like antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) and short interfering RNA (siRNA) for potential clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Aberrant gene expression is a hallmark of many cancers.
  • Targeted gene silencing offers a potentially less toxic alternative to conventional chemotherapy.
  • Several strategies exist to inhibit gene expression at transcriptional or translational levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review gene silencing agents for cancer therapeutics.
  • To focus on messenger RNA (mRNA) targeting methodologies.
  • To address challenges in clinical application, including cellular delivery and targeting efficacy.

Main Methods:

  • Overview of gene silencing strategies, including triple helix forming oligonucleotides, decoy transcription factor binding oligonucleotides, antisense oligonucleotides (ODN), and short interfering RNA (siRNA).
  • Focus on mRNA targeting agents.
  • Discussion of clinical considerations for nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Main Results:

  • Various nucleic acid-based agents target gene expression at transcription or mRNA translation.
  • Antisense ODN and siRNA are key mRNA targeting modalities.
  • Cellular delivery and successful targeting are critical for clinical success.

Conclusions:

  • Gene silencing agents, particularly mRNA-targeting ones, show therapeutic promise for cancer.
  • Further development is needed to overcome challenges in delivery and targeting for clinical translation.
  • Nucleic acid-based therapeutics represent a potential new frontier in cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Integration of Wet and Dry Bench Processes Optimizes Targeted Next-generation Sequencing of Low-quality and Low-quantity Tumor Biopsies13:24

Integration of Wet and Dry Bench Processes Optimizes Targeted Next-generation Sequencing of Low-quality and Low-quantity Tumor Biopsies

Published on: April 11, 2016

Assessment of DNA Double Strand Break Repair Activity Using High-throughput and Quantitative Luminescence-Based Reporter Assays05:01

Assessment of DNA Double Strand Break Repair Activity Using High-throughput and Quantitative Luminescence-Based Reporter Assays

Published on: June 14, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors01:22

Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside InhibitorsAntiviral nucleoside inhibitors are structural analogs of natural nucleosides that interfere with viral DNA or RNA synthesis. These compounds selectively target viral polymerases due to their resemblance to host nucleosides, thereby disrupting viral genome replication.Mechanism of Acyclovir ActionAcyclovir is a guanosine analog with a three-carbon acyclic side chain. It selectively targets herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...
Gene Therapy01:22

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be inserted. The...