Aptamers in cancer therapy: problems and new breakthroughs

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Drug Development

Background:

• Aptamers are oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity for molecular targets.
• They have broad applications in biosensing, imaging, diagnostics, and disease therapy.
• Clinical translation, particularly for cancer therapy, lags behind research due to specific challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the obstacles hindering clinical application of aptamer-conjugated drugs.
• To discuss methods for overcoming these obstructions, focusing on *in vivo* stability and biocompatibility.
• To highlight landmark and recent research in aptamer-based cancer therapy and discuss future directions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on aptamers in cancer therapy.
• Analysis of challenges such as nuclease degradation, renal clearance, selection complexity, and side effects.
• Discussion of strategies to improve *in vivo* performance of aptamer-drug conjugates.

Main Results:

• Identified key obstructions to clinical aptamer therapy: nuclease degradation, rapid clearance, complex selection, and potential toxicity.
• Detailed various approaches to enhance aptamer stability and biocompatibility *in vivo*.
• Presented examples of successful aptamer-drug conjugates in preclinical and clinical cancer research.

Conclusions:

• Overcoming *in vivo* stability and biocompatibility issues is crucial for aptamer clinical transformation.
• Continued research into aptamer modification and delivery systems will accelerate their therapeutic use.
• Aptamer-conjugated drugs hold significant potential for future cancer treatment strategies.