[Aptamer-based conjugated molecules in experimental and clinical approaches to treatment of glioblastoma]

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Oncology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and often incurable brain tumor.
• The blood-brain barrier presents a significant challenge for delivering anti-cancer drugs to brain tumors.
• Aptamers, as synthetic molecules, show promise for targeted drug delivery and therapeutic intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review aptamer-based drug development strategies for glioblastoma.
• To highlight the potential of aptamers in overcoming the blood-brain barrier.
• To discuss successful aptamer applications and their implications for glioblastoma therapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on aptamer development and glioblastoma treatment.
• Analysis of aptamer targeting strategies, including EGFR and CXCL-12.
• Examination of clinical data for aptamer-based therapies and antibody-drug conjugates.

Main Results:

• Aptamers can be engineered to target glioblastoma cells and deliver cytotoxic agents.
• NOX-A12, an aptamer targeting CXCL-12, reduces glioblastoma cell resistance to irradiation.
• Antibody-drug conjugates like trastuzumab-emtansine and trastuzumab-deruxtecan show efficacy against HER-2 positive breast cancer brain metastases.

Conclusions:

• Aptamer-based therapies represent a promising avenue for glioblastoma treatment.
• Conjugating aptamers with cytotoxic agents like emtansine or deruxtecan holds potential for treating glioblastoma.
• Further research and clinical trials are warranted to fully realize the therapeutic potential of aptamers in neuro-oncology.