The development and testing of aptamers for cancer.

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides that have specific three-dimensional structures and bind to target molecules. Several unique properties of aptamers, including high binding specificity, low immunogenicity, structural stability and ease of synthesis, have made aptamers promising agents for directed therapy against cancer targets. Aptamers with anti-neoplastic activity against extracellular, cell membrane and intracellular targets have been developed. Aptamers also have been incorporated into novel constructs as tools for delivering therapeutic agents. This review discusses the most recent advances in the application of aptamer technology for cancer therapy.

Duke Scholars

Author Andrew Serghios Barbas Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Surgery