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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
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Published on: October 25, 2013

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Aptamers as targeting ligands and therapeutic molecules for overcoming drug resistance in cancers

Gang Zhou1, Olivier Latchoumanin1, Lionel Hebbard1

  • 1Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|April 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Aptamers offer novel strategies to overcome cancer multi-drug resistance (MDR) by targeting cancer cells and delivering therapeutics. This review explores aptamer-based agents for reversing MDR and improving cancer treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer limits the efficacy of traditional therapies.
  • Mechanisms of MDR include micro-environmental stress and drug efflux pump overexpression.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for overcoming MDR and enhancing cancer treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms regulating MDR in cancer.
  • To highlight aptamer-mediated therapeutic agents and strategies for reversing MDR.
  • To discuss the challenges and potential of aptamer-based approaches in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current knowledge on MDR mechanisms.
  • Focus on aptamer technology for targeted cancer therapy.
  • Analysis of aptamer-based agents and strategies for MDR reversal.

Main Results:

  • Aptamers, as short oligonucleotides or peptides, offer advantages over antibodies for cancer treatment.
  • Aptamers can be engineered to target cancer-associated receptors for selective drug delivery.
  • Aptamer-mediated strategies show promise in overcoming MDR by delivering therapeutic payloads directly into tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Aptamers represent a promising platform for developing novel therapeutic agents against MDR cancers.
  • Targeted delivery of therapeutics via aptamers can enhance tumor-killing effects and improve treatment efficacy.
  • Further research and development are needed to address challenges in aptamer-based cancer therapy.
Keywords:
AptamersCancerEffluxMechanismsMulti-drug resistance (MDR)Therapeutics

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