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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer
Published on: September 13, 2022
Therapeutic aptamers: developmental potential as anticancer drugs
Ji Won Lee1, Hyun Jung Kim1, Kyun Heo1
1Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 410-769, Korea.
Aptamers, or DNA/RNA molecules, show promise as cancer therapeutics due to their specificity and low toxicity. Current clinical trials are evaluating aptamer-based treatments targeting nucleolin and CXCL12 for cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides selected for specific target molecule interaction.
- They possess high specificity, affinity, ease of synthesis, and low immunogenicity, making them suitable for therapeutic development.
- Aptamers are being investigated for various therapeutic applications, including cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current clinical status of aptamers and aptamer-based cancer therapeutics.
- To discuss the advantages, limitations, and future prospects of aptamers in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of aptamer-based cancer therapeutics.
- Analysis of current clinical trial data for aptamer-based drugs.
- Discussion of aptamer properties relevant to anticancer therapy.
Main Results:
- Two aptamers targeting nucleolin and CXCL12 are in clinical trials for cancer treatment.
- Numerous other aptamers are under investigation for their therapeutic potential.
- Aptamers demonstrate significant promise as a novel class of anticancer agents.
Conclusions:
- Aptamers represent a promising class of molecules for developing novel anticancer therapeutics.
- Ongoing clinical trials and research highlight the potential of aptamers in cancer treatment.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations and fully realize the prospects of aptamers in oncology.
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