Aptamer-mediated delivery of chemotherapy to pancreatic cancer cells.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog that is currently the best available single-agent chemotherapeutic drug for pancreatic cancer. However, efficacy is limited by our inability to deliver sufficient active metabolite into cancer cells without toxic effects on normal tissues. Targeted delivery of gemcitabine into cancer cells could maximize effectiveness and concurrently minimize toxic side effects by reducing uptake into normal cells. Most pancreatic cancers overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a trans-membrane receptor tyrosine kinase. We utilized a nuclease resistant RNA aptamer that binds and is internalized by EGFR on pancreatic cancer cells to deliver gemcitabine-containing polymers into EGFR-expressing cells and inhibit cell proliferation in vitro. This approach to cell type-specific therapy can be adapted to other targets and to other types of therapeutic cargo.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Ray, P; Cheek, MA; Sharaf, ML; Li, N; Ellington, AD; Sullenger, BA; Shaw, BR; White, RR

Published Date

  • October 2012

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 22 / 5

Start / End Page

  • 295 - 305

PubMed ID

  • 23030589

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC3464421

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2159-3345

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1089/nat.2012.0353

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States