Aptamers as a new frontier in targeted cancer therapy

Cancer treatment has transitioned from traditional chemotherapy to the molecular medicine era, emphasizing personalized therapy at the molecular level. Aptamers, also known as 'chemical antibodies', play a pivotal role in advancing molecular medicine. Utilizing the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) technique, these aptamers exhibit exceptional affinity for a wide range of targets, ranging from picomolar to nanomolar levels. Their exceptional characteristics, including ease of preparation, small size, low immunogenicity, remarkable chemical stability, and convenient modification, make them highly versatile for precise cancer therapy. Notably, aptamers have been successfully combined with therapeutic agents, such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and small molecule toxins for diverse research purposes. This review article will primarily focus on recent progress in aptamer-based targeted therapy for cancer, offering readers a comprehensive insight into the latest developments in aptamer-based cancer treatment.