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Aptamers: Current Applications in Leukemia Diagnostics and Therapeutics.
Bahareh Hosseinpour1,2, Joshua O'Grady1, Neda Mohaghegh2
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Nucleic Acid Therapeutics
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Aptamers, or synthetic DNA/RNA molecules, show promise for diagnosing and treating leukemia by targeting specific biomarkers. This review explores their current and future applications in leukemia research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides selected via Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX).
- They exhibit high affinity and specificity for molecular targets, similar to antibodies.
- Aptamers offer versatility and tunable properties for biomedical applications, particularly in cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the applications of aptamers in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia.
- To highlight novel research and future directions for aptamer-based leukemia therapies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on aptamers and leukemia.
- Analysis of aptamer selection strategies and their relevance to leukemia biomarkers.
- Discussion of clinical trial progress for therapeutic aptamers in oncology.
Main Results:
- Aptamers demonstrate potential as diagnostic tools by targeting leukemia-specific cellular biomarkers.
- Therapeutic aptamers show promise in preclinical and clinical studies for leukemia treatment.
- Ongoing research focuses on optimizing aptamer delivery and efficacy for leukemia.
Conclusions:
- Aptamers represent a promising class of molecules for advancing leukemia diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Further research and clinical trials are essential to fully realize the potential of aptamers in managing leukemia.
- Aptamer technology offers a versatile platform for developing targeted strategies against leukemia.
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