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Chatterjee D, Bhattacharya S, Kumari L, Datta A. Aptamers: ushering in new hopes in targeted glioblastoma therapy. J Drug Target 2024; 32:1005-1028. [PMID: 38923419 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2373306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma, a formidable brain cancer, has remained a therapeutic challenge due to its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional treatments. Recent data indicate that aptamers, short synthetic DNA or RNA molecules can be used in anti-cancer therapy due to their better tumour penetration, specific binding affinity, longer retention in tumour sites and their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. With the ability to modify these oligonucleotides through the selection process, and using rational design to modify them, post-SELEX aptamers offer several advantages in glioblastoma treatment, including precise targeting of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This review discusses the pivotal role of aptamers in glioblastoma therapy and diagnosis, emphasising their potential to enhance treatment efficacy and also highlights recent advancements in aptamer-based therapies which can transform the landscape of glioblastoma treatment, offering renewed hope to patients and clinicians alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarpan Chatterjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Srijan Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Leena Kumari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Aparna Datta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
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2
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Ram TB, Krishnan S, Jeevanandam J, Danquah MK, Thomas S. Emerging Biohybrids of Aptamer-Based Nano-Biosensing Technologies for Effective Early Cancer Detection. Mol Diagn Ther 2024; 28:425-453. [PMID: 38775897 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-024-00717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a leading global cause of mortality, which underscores the imperative of early detection for improved patient outcomes. Biorecognition molecules, especially aptamers, have emerged as highly effective tools for early and accurate cancer cell identification. Aptamers, with superior versatility in synthesis and modification, offer enhanced binding specificity and stability compared with conventional antibodies. Hence, this article reviews diagnostic strategies employing aptamer-based biohybrid nano-biosensing technologies, focusing on their utility in detecting cancer biomarkers and abnormal cells. Recent developments include the synthesis of nano-aptamers using diverse nanomaterials, such as metallic nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-derived substances, and biohybrid nanostructures. The integration of these nanomaterials with aptamers significantly enhances sensitivity and specificity, promising innovative and efficient approaches for cancer diagnosis. This convergence of nanotechnology with aptamer research holds the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment through rapid, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jaison Jeevanandam
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
| | - Michael K Danquah
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Sabu Thomas
- School of Polymer Science and Technology and School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India
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Affinito A, Quintavalle C, Chianese RV, Roscigno G, Fiore D, D'Argenio V, Thomas G, Savarese A, Ingenito F, Cocca L, Nuzzo S, Berezovski MV, Stoppelli MP, Condorelli G. MCT4-driven CAF-mediated metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer microenvironment is a vulnerability targetable by miR-425-5p. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:140. [PMID: 38485929 PMCID: PMC10940713 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01910-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple oncogenic alterations contribute to breast cancer development. Metabolic reprogramming, deeply contributing to tumor microenvironment (TME) education, is now widely recognized as a hallmark of cancer. The reverse Warburg effect induces cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to produce and secrete L-lactate, enhancing malignant characteristics such as neoangiogenesis, metastatic dissemination, and treatment resistance. Monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 4 is involved in lactate efflux from CAFs into stromal and epithelial cells. Here, we first assess the expression of miR-425-5p and its target MCT4 in breast cancer CAFs and normal fibroblasts. We analyzed the metabolic changes induced by miR-425-5p in CAFs and its role in the education of breast cancer epithelial cells. We show that miR-425-5p-induced MCT4 knockdown decreased lactate extrusion from CAFs and its availability in the TME. miR-425-5p overexpression induced profound metabolic transformation in CAFs, ultimately influencing breast cancer metabolism. Furthermore, miR-425-5p impaired the capacity of CAFs to sustain vessel formation and breast cancer cell migration, viability, and proliferation. These findings emphasize the key role of miR-425-5p in breast cancer metabolism and aggressiveness, and its possible importance for breast cancer therapy and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Affinito
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- AKA Biotech, Naples, Italy
| | - Cristina Quintavalle
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Vincenzo Chianese
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Roscigno
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Danilo Fiore
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria D'Argenio
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele Open University, Roma, Italy
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Savarese
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Ingenito
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenza Cocca
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Maxim V Berezovski
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and John L. Holmes Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Gerolama Condorelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), CNR, Naples, Italy.
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Harisa GI, Faris TM, Sherif AY, Alzhrani RF, Alanazi SA, Kohaf NA, Alanazi FK. Gene-editing technology, from macromolecule therapeutics to organ transplantation: Applications, limitations, and prospective uses. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127055. [PMID: 37758106 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Gene editing technologies (GETs) could induce gene knockdown or gene knockout for biomedical applications. The clinical success of gene silence by RNAi therapies pays attention to other GETs as therapeutic approaches. This review aims to highlight GETs, categories, mechanisms, challenges, current use, and prospective applications. The different academic search engines, electronic databases, and bibliographies of selected articles were used in the preparation of this review with a focus on the fundamental considerations. The present results revealed that, among GETs, CRISPR/Cas9 has higher editing efficiency and targeting specificity compared to other GETs to insert, delete, modify, or replace the gene at a specific location in the host genome. Therefore, CRISPR/Cas9 is talented in the production of molecular, tissue, cell, and organ therapies. Consequently, GETs could be used in the discovery of innovative therapeutics for genetic diseases, pandemics, cancer, hopeless diseases, and organ failure. Specifically, GETs have been used to produce gene-modified animals to spare human organ failure. Genetically modified pigs are used in clinical trials as a source of heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs for xenotransplantation (XT) in humans. Viral, non-viral, and hybrid vectors have been utilized for the delivery of GETs with some limitations. Therefore, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are proposed as intelligent and future cargoes for GETs delivery in clinical applications. This study concluded that GETs are promising for the production of molecular, cellular, and organ therapies. The use of GETs as XT is still in the early stage as well and they have ethical and biosafety issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamaleldin I Harisa
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Tarek M Faris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelrahman Y Sherif
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad F Alzhrani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Nanobiotechnology Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Alanazi
- Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science Collage of Pharmacy, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neveen A Kohaf
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
| | - Fars K Alanazi
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Ruiz-Ciancio D, Lin LH, Veeramani S, Barros MN, Sanchez D, Di Bartolo AL, Masone D, Giangrande PH, Mestre MB, Thiel WH. Selection of a novel cell-internalizing RNA aptamer specific for CD22 antigen in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 33:698-712. [PMID: 37662970 PMCID: PMC10469072 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite improvements in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) treatment, a significant number of patients experience relapse of the disease, resulting in poor prognosis and high mortality. One of the drawbacks of current B-ALL treatments is the high toxicity associated with the non-specificity of chemotherapeutic drugs. Targeted therapy is an appealing strategy to treat B-ALL to mitigate these toxic off-target effects. One such target is the B cell surface protein CD22. The restricted expression of CD22 on the B-cell lineage and its ligand-induced internalizing properties make it an attractive target in cases of B cell malignancies. To target B-ALL and the CD22 protein, we performed cell internalization SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) followed by molecular docking to identify internalizing aptamers specific for B-ALL cells that bind the CD22 cell-surface receptor. We identified two RNA aptamers, B-ALL1 and B-ALL2, that target human malignant B cells, with B-ALL1 the first documented RNA aptamer interacting with the CD22 antigen. These B-ALL-specific aptamers represent an important first step toward developing novel targeted therapies for B cell malignancy treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Ruiz-Ciancio
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Cuyo, Av. José Ignacio de la Roza 1516, Rivadavia, San Juan 5400, Argentina
- National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina
| | - Li-Hsien Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
| | - Suresh Veeramani
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Maya N. Barros
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
| | - Diego Sanchez
- Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo (IMBECU), CONICET, CCT-Mendoza 5500, Argentina
| | - Ary Lautaro Di Bartolo
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza (IHEM) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza M5502JMA, Argentina
| | - Diego Masone
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza (IHEM) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza M5502JMA, Argentina
| | - Paloma H. Giangrande
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- VP Platform Discovery Sciences, Biology, Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - María Belén Mestre
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Cuyo, Av. José Ignacio de la Roza 1516, Rivadavia, San Juan 5400, Argentina
- National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina
| | - William H. Thiel
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
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Ai L, Jiang X, Zhang K, Cui C, Liu B, Tan W. Tools and techniques for the discovery of therapeutic aptamers: recent advances. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:1393-1411. [PMID: 37840268 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2264187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The pursuit of novel therapeutic agents for serious diseases such as cancer has been a global endeavor. Aptamers characteristic of high affinity, programmability, low immunogenicity, and rapid permeability hold great promise for the treatment of diseases. Yet obtaining the approval for therapeutic aptamers remains challenging. Consequently, researchers are increasingly devoted to exploring innovative strategies and technologies to advance the development of these therapeutic aptamers. AREAS COVERED The authors provide a comprehensive summary of the recent progress of the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) technique, and how the integration of modern tools has facilitated the identification of therapeutic aptamers. Additionally, the engineering of aptamers to enhance their functional attributes, such as inhibiting and targeting, is discussed, demonstrating the potential to broaden their scope of utility. EXPERT OPINION The grand potential of aptamers and the insufficient development of relevant drugs have spurred countless efforts for stimulating their discovery and application in the therapeutic field. While SELEX techniques have undergone significant developments with the aid of advanced analysis instruments and ingeniously updated aptameric engineering strategies, several challenges still impede their clinical translation. A key challenge lies in the insufficient understanding of binding conformation and susceptibility to degradation under physiological conditions. Despite the hurdles, our opinion is optimistic. With continued progress in overcoming these obstacles, the widespread utilization of aptamers for clinical therapy is envisioned to become a reality soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Ai
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, The People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Jiang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, The People's Republic of China
| | - Kejing Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics and Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, The People's Republic of China
- The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, The People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Cui
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, The People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Geriatrics and Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, The People's Republic of China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, The People's Republic of China
- The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, The People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China
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Anwar S, Mir F, Yokota T. Enhancing the Effectiveness of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Using Cell-Penetrating Peptide Conjugation, Chemical Modification, and Carrier-Based Delivery Strategies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041130. [PMID: 37111616 PMCID: PMC10140998 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligonucleotide-based therapies are a promising approach for treating a wide range of hard-to-treat diseases, particularly genetic and rare diseases. These therapies involve the use of short synthetic sequences of DNA or RNA that can modulate gene expression or inhibit proteins through various mechanisms. Despite the potential of these therapies, a significant barrier to their widespread use is the difficulty in ensuring their uptake by target cells/tissues. Strategies to overcome this challenge include cell-penetrating peptide conjugation, chemical modification, nanoparticle formulation, and the use of endogenous vesicles, spherical nucleic acids, and smart material-based delivery vehicles. This article provides an overview of these strategies and their potential for the efficient delivery of oligonucleotide drugs, as well as the safety and toxicity considerations, regulatory requirements, and challenges in translating these therapies from the laboratory to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Anwar
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Farin Mir
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
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Woldekidan HB, Woldesemayat AA, Adam G, Tafesse M, Thimiri Govinda Raj DB. Aptamer-Based Tumor-Targeted Diagnosis and Drug Delivery. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1409:173-192. [PMID: 35896892 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Early cancer identification is crucial for providing patients with safe and timely therapy. Highly dependable and adaptive technologies will be required to detect the presence of biological markers for cancer at very low levels in the early stages of tumor formation. These techniques have been shown to be beneficial in encouraging patients to develop early intervention plans, which could lead to an increase in the overall survival rate of cancer patients. Targeted drug delivery (TDD) using aptamer is promising due to its favorable properties. Aptamer is suitable for superior TDD system candidates due to its desirable properties including a high binding affinity and specificity, a low immunogenicity, and a chemical composition that can be simply changed.Due to these properties, aptamer-based TDD application has limited drug side effect along with organ damages. The development of aptasensor has been promising in TDD for cancer cell treatment. There are biomarkers and expressed molecules during cancer cell development; however, only few are addressed in aptamer detection study of those molecules. Its great potential of attachment of binding to specific target molecule made aptamer a reliable recognition element. Because of their unique physical, chemical, and biological features, aptamers have a lot of potential in cancer precision medicine.In this review, we summarized aptamer technology and its application in cancer. This includes advantages properties of aptamer technology over other molecules were thoroughly discussed. In addition, we have also elaborated the application of aptamer as a direct therapeutic function and as a targeted drug delivery molecule (aptasensor) in cancer cells with several examples in preclinical and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haregewoin Bezu Woldekidan
- Synthetic Nanobiotechnology and Biomachines, Synthetic Biology and Precision Medicine Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adugna A Woldesemayat
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Getachew Adam
- Sustainable Energy Center of Excellence, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mesfin Tafesse
- Synthetic Nanobiotechnology and Biomachines, Synthetic Biology and Precision Medicine Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
- Biotechnology and Bioprocessing Center of Excellence, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Deepak B Thimiri Govinda Raj
- Synthetic Nanobiotechnology and Biomachines, Synthetic Biology and Precision Medicine Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa.
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Amundarain A, Pastor F, Prósper F, Agirre X. Aptamers, a New Therapeutic Opportunity for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5471. [PMID: 36358889 PMCID: PMC9657029 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple Myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease due to high relapse rates and fast development of drug resistances. The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) has caused a paradigm shift in MM treatment, paving the way for targeted approaches with increased efficacy and reduced toxicities. Nevertheless, antibody-based therapies face several difficulties such as high immunogenicity, high production costs and limited conjugation capacity, which we believe could be overcome by the introduction of nucleic acid aptamers. Similar to antibodies, aptamers can bind to their targets with great affinity and specificity. However, their chemical nature reduces their immunogenicity and production costs, while it enables their conjugation to a wide variety of cargoes for their use as delivery agents. In this review, we summarize several aptamers that have been tested against MM specific targets with promising results, establishing the rationale for the further development of aptamer-based strategies against MM. In this direction, we believe that the study of novel plasma cell surface markers, the development of intracellular aptamers and further research on aptamers as building blocks for complex nanomedicines will lead to the generation of next-generation targeted approaches that will undoubtedly contribute to improve the management and life quality of MM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Amundarain
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), IDISNA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fernando Pastor
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), IDISNA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Felipe Prósper
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), IDISNA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Hematology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, CCUN, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Xabier Agirre
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), IDISNA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Shaabani E, Sharifiaghdam M, Faridi-Majidi R, De Smedt SC, Braeckmans K, Fraire JC. Gene therapy to enhance angiogenesis in chronic wounds. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:871-899. [PMID: 36159590 PMCID: PMC9464651 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Skin injuries and chronic non-healing wounds are one of the major global burdens on the healthcare systems worldwide due to their difficult-to-treat nature, associated co-morbidities, and high health care costs. Angiogenesis has a pivotal role in the wound-healing process, which becomes impaired in many chronic non-healing wounds, leading to several healing disorders and complications. Therefore, induction or promotion of angiogenesis can be considered a promising approach for healing of chronic wounds. Gene therapy is one of the most promising upcoming strategies for the treatment of chronic wounds. It can be classified into three main approaches: gene augmentation, gene silencing, and gene editing. Despite the increasing number of encouraging results obtained using nucleic acids (NAs) as active pharmaceutical ingredients of gene therapy, efficient delivery of NAs to their site of action (cytoplasm or nucleus) remains a key challenge. Selection of the right therapeutic cargo and delivery methods is crucial for a favorable prognosis of the healing process. This article presents an overview of gene therapy and non-viral delivery methods for angiogenesis induction in chronic wounds.
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Bartolucci D, Pession A, Hrelia P, Tonelli R. Precision Anti-Cancer Medicines by Oligonucleotide Therapeutics in Clinical Research Targeting Undruggable Proteins and Non-Coding RNAs. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071453. [PMID: 35890348 PMCID: PMC9315662 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer incidence and mortality continue to increase, while the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs confer limited efficacy and relevant toxic side effects. Novel strategies are urgently needed for more effective and safe therapeutics in oncology. However, a large number of proteins are considered undruggable by conventional drugs, such as the small molecules. Moreover, the mRNA itself retains oncological functions, and its targeting offers the double advantage of blocking the tumorigenic activities of the mRNA and the translation into protein. Finally, a large family of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has recently emerged that are also dysregulated in cancer, but they could not be targeted by drugs directed against the proteins. In this context, this review describes how the oligonucleotide therapeutics targeting RNA or DNA sequences, are emerging as a new class of drugs, able to tackle the limitations described above. Numerous clinical trials are evaluating oligonucleotides for tumor treatment, and in the next few years some of them are expected to reach the market. We describe the oligonucleotide therapeutics targeting undruggable proteins (focusing on the most relevant, such as those originating from the MYC and RAS gene families), and for ncRNAs, in particular on those that are under clinical trial evaluation in oncology. We highlight the challenges and solutions for the clinical success of oligonucleotide therapeutics, with particular emphasis on the peculiar challenges that render it arduous to treat tumors, such as heterogeneity and the high mutation rate. In the review are presented these and other advantages offered by the oligonucleotide as an emerging class of biotherapeutics for a new era of precision anti-cancer medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Pession
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Hrelia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Roberto Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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12
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Halloy F, Biscans A, Bujold KE, Debacker A, Hill AC, Lacroix A, Luige O, Strömberg R, Sundstrom L, Vogel J, Ghidini A. Innovative developments and emerging technologies in RNA therapeutics. RNA Biol 2022; 19:313-332. [PMID: 35188077 PMCID: PMC8865321 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2027150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics are emerging as a powerful platform for the treatment of multiple diseases. Currently, the two main categories of nucleic acid therapeutics, antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), achieve their therapeutic effect through either gene silencing, splicing modulation or microRNA binding, giving rise to versatile options to target pathogenic gene expression patterns. Moreover, ongoing research seeks to expand the scope of RNA-based drugs to include more complex nucleic acid templates, such as messenger RNA, as exemplified by the first approved mRNA-based vaccine in 2020. The increasing number of approved sequences and ongoing clinical trials has attracted considerable interest in the chemical development of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids as drugs, especially since the FDA approval of the first siRNA drug in 2018. As a result, a variety of innovative approaches is emerging, highlighting the potential of RNA as one of the most prominent therapeutic tools in the drug design and development pipeline. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive summary of current efforts in academia and industry aimed at fully realizing the potential of RNA-based therapeutics. Towards this, we introduce established and emerging RNA-based technologies, with a focus on their potential as biosensors and therapeutics. We then describe their mechanisms of action and their application in different disease contexts, along with the strengths and limitations of each strategy. Since the nucleic acid toolbox is rapidly expanding, we also introduce RNA minimal architectures, RNA/protein cleavers and viral RNA as promising modalities for new therapeutics and discuss future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Halloy
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- Oligonucleotide Chemistry, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Katherine E. Bujold
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University, (Ontario), Canada
| | | | - Alyssa C. Hill
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eth Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aurélie Lacroix
- Sixfold Bioscience, Translation & Innovation Hub, London, UK
| | - Olivia Luige
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Roger Strömberg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Linda Sundstrom
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (Hiri), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (Hzi), Würzburg, Germany
- RNA Biology Group, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alice Ghidini
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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13
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Quemener AM, Centomo ML, Sax SL, Panella R. Small Drugs, Huge Impact: The Extraordinary Impact of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Research and Drug Development. Molecules 2022; 27:536. [PMID: 35056851 PMCID: PMC8781596 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are an increasingly represented class of drugs. These small sequences of nucleotides are designed to precisely target other oligonucleotides, usually RNA species, and are modified to protect them from degradation by nucleases. Their specificity is due to their sequence, so it is possible to target any RNA sequence that is already known. These molecules are very versatile and adaptable given that their sequence and chemistry can be custom manufactured. Based on the chemistry being used, their activity may significantly change and their effects on cell function and phenotypes can differ dramatically. While some will cause the target RNA to decay, others will only bind to the target and act as a steric blocker. Their incredible versatility is the key to manipulating several aspects of nucleic acid function as well as their process, and alter the transcriptome profile of a specific cell type or tissue. For example, they can be used to modify splicing or mask specific sites on a target. The entire design rather than just the sequence is essential to ensuring the specificity of the ASO to its target. Thus, it is vitally important to ensure that the complete process of drug design and testing is taken into account. ASOs' adaptability is a considerable advantage, and over the past decades has allowed multiple new drugs to be approved. This, in turn, has had a significant and positive impact on patient lives. Given current challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to find new therapeutic strategies that would complement the vaccination efforts being used across the globe. ASOs may be a very powerful tool that can be used to target the virus RNA and provide a therapeutic paradigm. The proof of the efficacy of ASOs as an anti-viral agent is long-standing, yet no molecule currently has FDA approval. The emergence and widespread use of RNA vaccines during this health crisis might provide an ideal opportunity to develop the first anti-viral ASOs on the market. In this review, we describe the story of ASOs, the different characteristics of their chemistry, and how their characteristics translate into research and as a clinical tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anais M. Quemener
- University Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes)-UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France;
| | - Maria Laura Centomo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy;
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA;
| | - Scott L. Sax
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA;
| | - Riccardo Panella
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA;
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14
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Zaafar D, Elemary T, Hady YA, Essawy A. RNA-targeting Therapy: A Promising Approach to Reach Non-Druggable Targets. BIOMEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 14:1781-1790. [DOI: 10.13005/bpj/2277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The term "non-druggable" refers to a protein that cannot be targeted pharmacologically; recently, significant efforts have been made to convert these proteins into targets that are reachable or "druggable." Pharmacologically targeting these difficult proteins has emerged as a major challenge in modern drug development, necessitating the innovation and development of new technologies. The idea of using RNA-targeting therapeutics as a platform to reach unreachable targets is very appealing. Antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid or aptamers, RNA interference therapeutics, microRNA, and synthetic RNA are examples of RNA-targeting therapeutics. Many of these agents were FDA-approved for the treatment of rare or genetic diseases, as well as molecular markers for disease diagnosis. As a promising type of therapeutic, many studies are being conducted in order for more and more of them to be approved and used in different disease treatments and to shift them from treating rare diseases only to being used as more specific targeting agents in the treatment of various common diseases. This article will look at some of the most recent technological and pharmaceutical advances that have contributed to the erosion of the concept of undruggability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Zaafar
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, MTI University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Toka Elemary
- 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yara Abdel Hady
- 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aya Essawy
- 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of pharmacy, MTI University, Cairo, Egypt
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15
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Lavania S, Gupta VK, Saluja A. The Rise of Aptamers: Promising Avenues in the Treatment of Solid Tumors. Gastroenterology 2021; 161:804-806. [PMID: 34174244 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Lavania
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
| | - Vineet K Gupta
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Ashok Saluja
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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16
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Abdelaal AM, Kasinski AL. Ligand-mediated delivery of RNAi-based therapeutics for the treatment of oncological diseases. NAR Cancer 2021; 3:zcab030. [PMID: 34316717 PMCID: PMC8291076 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcab030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics (miRNAs, siRNAs) have great potential for treating various human diseases through their ability to downregulate proteins associated with disease progression. However, the development of RNAi-based therapeutics is limited by lack of safe and specific delivery strategies. A great effort has been made to overcome some of these challenges resulting in development of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) ligands that are being used for delivery of siRNAs for the treatment of diseases that affect the liver. The successes achieved using GalNAc-siRNAs have paved the way for developing RNAi-based delivery strategies that can target extrahepatic diseases including cancer. This includes targeting survival signals directly in the cancer cells and indirectly through targeting cancer-associated immunosuppressive cells. To achieve targeting specificity, RNAi molecules are being directly conjugated to a targeting ligand or being packaged into a delivery vehicle engineered to overexpress a targeting ligand on its surface. In both cases, the ligand binds to a cell surface receptor that is highly upregulated by the target cells, while not expressed, or expressed at low levels on normal cells. In this review, we summarize the most recent RNAi delivery strategies, including extracellular vesicles, that use a ligand-mediated approach for targeting various oncological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Abdelaal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Andrea L Kasinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
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17
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Meschaninova MI, Entelis NS, Chernolovskaya EL, Venyaminova AG. A Versatile Solid-Phase Approach to the Synthesis of Oligonucleotide Conjugates with Biodegradable Hydrazone Linker. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082119. [PMID: 33917095 PMCID: PMC8067880 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the ways to efficiently deliver various drugs, including therapeutic nucleic acids, into the cells is conjugating them with different transport ligands via labile or stable bonds. A convenient solid-phase approach for the synthesis of 5′-conjugates of oligonucleotides with biodegradable pH-sensitive hydrazone covalent bonds is proposed in this article. The approach relies on introducing a hydrazide of the ligand under aqueous/organic media to a fully protected support-bound oligonucleotide containing aldehyde function at the 5′-end. We demonstrated the proof-of-principle of this approach by synthesizing 5′-lipophilic (e.g., cholesterol and α-tocopherol) conjugates of modified siRNA and non-coding RNAs imported into mitochondria (antireplicative RNAs and guide RNAs for Mito-CRISPR/system). The developed method has the potential to be extended for the synthesis of pH-sensitive conjugates of oligonucleotides of different types (ribo-, deoxyribo-, 2′-O-methylribo-, and others) with ligands of different nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya I. Meschaninova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (E.L.C.); (A.G.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-383-363-5129
| | - Nina S. Entelis
- UMR Genetique Moleculaire, Genomique, Microbiologie (GMGM), Strasbourg University—CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Elena L. Chernolovskaya
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (E.L.C.); (A.G.V.)
| | - Alya G. Venyaminova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (E.L.C.); (A.G.V.)
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18
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Mendonça MCP, Kont A, Aburto MR, Cryan JF, O'Driscoll CM. Advances in the Design of (Nano)Formulations for Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides and Small Interfering RNA: Focus on the Central Nervous System. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:1491-1506. [PMID: 33734715 PMCID: PMC8824433 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c01238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
RNA-based therapeutics have emerged
as one of the most powerful
therapeutic options used for the modulation of gene/protein expression
and gene editing with the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
However, the delivery of nucleic acids to the central nervous system
(CNS), in particular by the systemic route, remains a major hurdle.
This review will focus on the strategies for systemic delivery of
therapeutic nucleic acids designed to overcome these barriers. Pathways
and mechanisms of transport across the blood–brain barrier
which could be exploited for delivery are described, focusing in particular
on smaller nucleic acids including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)
and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Approaches used to enhance delivery
including chemical modifications, nanocarrier systems, and target
selection (cell-specific delivery) are critically analyzed. Learnings
achieved from a comparison of the successes and failures reported
for CNS delivery of ASOs versus siRNA will help identify opportunities
for a wider range of nucleic acids and accelerate the clinical translation
of these innovative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique C P Mendonça
- Pharmacodelivery Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | - Ayse Kont
- Pharmacodelivery Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | - Maria Rodriguez Aburto
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland
| | - Caitriona M O'Driscoll
- Pharmacodelivery Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
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19
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Novopashina DS, Vorobyeva MA, Venyaminova A. Recent Advances in the Synthesis of High Boron-Loaded Nucleic Acids for BNCT. Front Chem 2021; 9:619052. [PMID: 33791278 PMCID: PMC8005562 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.619052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Boron clusters attract considerable attention as promising therapeutic tools for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). They combine high boron content with high chemical and biological stability, biorthogonality, and low toxicity. The development of oligonucleotide-based constructs and nucleic acid-like molecules, such as oligomeric phosphate diesters, bearing one or multiple boron clusters permits to create potential high boron-loaded agents for BNCT with good bioavailability, specifically interacting with nucleic acids inside the cell. Here, we shortly review the strategies and solutions in the design of oligonucleotide conjugates with boron clusters in light of the requirements for effective BNCT and future prospects of their practical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya Sergeevna Novopashina
- Laboratory of RNA Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Alya Venyaminova
- Laboratory of RNA Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
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20
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Esposito CL, Quintavalle C, Ingenito F, Rotoli D, Roscigno G, Nuzzo S, Thomas R, Catuogno S, de Franciscis V, Condorelli G. Identification of a novel RNA aptamer that selectively targets breast cancer exosomes. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 23:982-994. [PMID: 33614245 PMCID: PMC7868932 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Despite advances in its management, the identification of new options for early-stage diagnosis and therapy of this tumor still represents a crucial challenge. Increasing evidence indicates that extracellular vesicles called exosomes may have great potential as early diagnostic biomarkers and regulators of many cancers, including breast cancer. Therefore, exploiting molecules able to selectively recognize them is of great interest. Here, we developed a novel differential SELEX strategy, called Exo-SELEX, to isolate nucleic acid aptamers against intact exosomes derived from primary breast cancer cells. Among the obtained sequences, we optimized a high-affinity aptamer (ex-50.T) able to specifically recognize exosomes from breast cancer cells or patient serum samples. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the ex.50.T is a functional inhibitor of exosome cellular uptake and antagonizes cancer exosome-induced cell migration in vitro. This molecule provides an innovative tool for the specific exosome detection and the development of new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lucia Esposito
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, “G.Salvatore” IEOS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Cristina Quintavalle
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, “G.Salvatore” IEOS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Ingenito
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II,” 80100 Naples, Italy
| | - Deborah Rotoli
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, “G.Salvatore” IEOS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Roscigno
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II,” 80100 Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Silvia Catuogno
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, “G.Salvatore” IEOS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vittorio de Franciscis
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, “G.Salvatore” IEOS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Gerolama Condorelli
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, “G.Salvatore” IEOS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II,” 80100 Naples, Italy
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21
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Mayoral-Varo V, Sánchez-Bailón MP, Calcabrini A, García-Hernández M, Frezza V, Martín ME, González VM, Martín-Pérez J. The Relevance of the SH2 Domain for c-Src Functionality in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030462. [PMID: 33530373 PMCID: PMC7865352 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of Src family kinases (SFKs) in human tumors has been always associated with tyrosine kinase activity and much less attention has been given to the SH2 and SH3 adapter domains. Here, we studied the role of the c-Src-SH2 domain in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). To this end, SUM159PT and MDA-MB-231 human cell lines were employed as model systems. These cells conditionally expressed, under tetracycline control (Tet-On system), a c-Src variant with point-inactivating mutation of the SH2 adapter domain (R175L). The expression of this mutant reduced the self-renewal capability of the enriched population of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), demonstrating the importance of the SH2 adapter domain of c-Src in the mammary gland carcinogenesis. In addition, the analysis of anchorage-independent growth, proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, all processes associated with tumorigenesis, showed that the SH2 domain of c-Src plays a very relevant role in their regulation. Furthermore, the transfection of two different aptamers directed to SH2-c-Src in both SUM159PT and MDA-MB-231 cells induced inhibition of their proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, strengthening the hypothesis that this domain is highly involved in TNBC tumorigenesis. Therefore, the SH2 domain of c-Src could be a promising therapeutic target and combined treatments with inhibitors of c-Src kinase enzymatic activity may represent a new therapeutic strategy for patients with TNBC, whose prognosis is currently very negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Mayoral-Varo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas A, Sols/Dpto. Bioquímica (CSIC/UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (M.P.S.-B.); (A.C.)
| | - María Pilar Sánchez-Bailón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas A, Sols/Dpto. Bioquímica (CSIC/UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (M.P.S.-B.); (A.C.)
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annarica Calcabrini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas A, Sols/Dpto. Bioquímica (CSIC/UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (M.P.S.-B.); (A.C.)
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta García-Hernández
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Servicio Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-H.); (V.F.); (M.E.M.); (V.M.G.)
| | - Valerio Frezza
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Servicio Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-H.); (V.F.); (M.E.M.); (V.M.G.)
| | - María Elena Martín
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Servicio Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-H.); (V.F.); (M.E.M.); (V.M.G.)
| | - Víctor M. González
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Servicio Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-H.); (V.F.); (M.E.M.); (V.M.G.)
| | - Jorge Martín-Pérez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas A, Sols/Dpto. Bioquímica (CSIC/UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (M.P.S.-B.); (A.C.)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias del Hospital La Paz (IdiPAZ), Paseo de la Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +34-91-585-4416; Fax: +34-91-585-4401
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22
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Modulating the Crosstalk between the Tumor and the Microenvironment Using SiRNA: A Flexible Strategy for Breast Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123744. [PMID: 33322132 PMCID: PMC7763441 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary With this review we aimed to collect the most relevant scientific findings regarding siRNA therapeutic tools against breast cancer microenvironment. Remarkably, breast cancer treatments have been redirected towards the tumor microenvironment components, mainly involved in patients’ relapse and pharmacological resistance. Therefore, siRNAs represent a promising strategy to jeopardize the tumor microenvironment interplay thanks to their non-toxic and specific effects. Abstract Tumorigenesis is a complex and multistep process in which sequential mutations in oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes result in enhanced proliferation and apoptosis escape. Over the past decades, several studies have provided evidence that tumors are more than merely a mass of malignant cancer cells, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) also contributing to cancer progression. For this reason, the focus of cancer research in recent years has shifted from the malignant cancer cell itself to the TME and its interactions. Since the TME actively participates in tumor progression, therapeutic strategies targeting it have created great interest. In this context, much attention has been paid to the potential application of small interfering RNA (siRNA), a class of non-coding RNA that has the ability to downregulate the expression of target genes in a sequence-specific way. This is paving the way for a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of several diseases, including cancer. In this review, we describe recent efforts in developing siRNA therapeutics for the treatment of breast cancer, with particular emphasis on TME regulation. We focus on studies that adapt siRNA design to reprogram/re-educate the TME and eradicate the interplay between cancer cells and TME.
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23
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Abstract
Oligonucleotides can be used to modulate gene expression via a range of processes including RNAi, target degradation by RNase H-mediated cleavage, splicing modulation, non-coding RNA inhibition, gene activation and programmed gene editing. As such, these molecules have potential therapeutic applications for myriad indications, with several oligonucleotide drugs recently gaining approval. However, despite recent technological advances, achieving efficient oligonucleotide delivery, particularly to extrahepatic tissues, remains a major translational limitation. Here, we provide an overview of oligonucleotide-based drug platforms, focusing on key approaches - including chemical modification, bioconjugation and the use of nanocarriers - which aim to address the delivery challenge.
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24
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Aptamers: a novel targeted theranostic platform for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Radiat Oncol 2020; 15:189. [PMID: 32758252 PMCID: PMC7409417 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-020-01624-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely challenging disease with a high mortality rate and a short overall survival time. The poor prognosis can be explained by aggressive tumor growth, late diagnosis, and therapy resistance. Consistent efforts have been made focusing on early tumor detection and novel drug development. Various strategies aim at increasing target specificity or local enrichment of chemotherapeutics as well as imaging agents in tumor tissue. Aptamers have the potential to provide early detection and permit anti-cancer therapy with significantly reduced side effects. These molecules are in-vitro selected single-stranded oligonucleotides that form stable three-dimensional structures. They are capable of binding to a variety of molecular targets with high affinity and specificity. Several properties such as high binding affinity, the in vitro chemical process of selection, a variety of chemical modifications of molecular platforms for diverse function, non-immunoreactivity, modification of bioavailability, and manipulation of pharmacokinetics make aptamers attractive targets compared to conventional cell-specific ligands. To explore the potential of aptamers for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of PDAC - as single agents and in combination with radiotherapy - we summarize the generation process of aptamers and their application as biosensors, biomarker detection tools, targeted imaging tracers, and drug-delivery carriers. We are furthermore discussing the current implementation aptamers in clinical trials, their limitations and possible future utilization.
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Thenmozhi R, Lee JS, Park NY, Choi BO, Hong YB. Gene Therapy Options as New Treatment for Inherited Peripheral Neuropathy. Exp Neurobiol 2020; 29:177-188. [PMID: 32624504 PMCID: PMC7344374 DOI: 10.5607/en20004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited peripheral neuropathy (IPN) is caused by heterogeneous genetic mutations in more than 100 genes. So far, several treatment options for IPN have been developed and clinically evaluated using small molecules. However, gene therapy-based therapeutic strategies have not been aggressively investigated, likely due to the complexities of inheritance in IPN. Indeed, because the majority of the causative mutations of IPN lead to gain-of-function rather than loss-of-function, developing a therapeutic strategy is more difficult, especially considering gene therapy for genetic diseases began with the simple idea of replacing a defective gene with a functional copy. Recent advances in gene manipulation technology have brought novel approaches to gene therapy and its clinical application for IPN treatment. For example, in addition to the classically used gene replacement for mutant genes in recessively inherited IPN, other techniques including gene addition to modify the disease phenotype, modulations of target gene expression, and techniques to edit mutant genes have been developed and evaluated as potent therapeutic strategies for dominantly inherited IPN. In this review, the current status of gene therapy for IPN and future perspectives will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ji-Su Lee
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicne Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Na Young Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan 49201, Korea
| | - Byung-Ok Choi
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicne Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea.,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Young Bin Hong
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan 49201, Korea
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Mignani S, Shi X, Ceña V, Majoral JP. Dendrimer- and polymeric nanoparticle-aptamer bioconjugates as nonviral delivery systems: a new approach in medicine. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:1065-1073. [PMID: 32283193 PMCID: PMC7151348 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers are RNA or DNA oligonucleotides interacting to form unique 3D target conformations with high affinity and specificity, and are emerging as a powerful class of ligands for therapeutic applications. In addition, dendrimers are well-defined nano-sized symmetric polymeric molecules. In this review, we provide an analysis of the use of dendrimers modified with aptamers as nonviral vectors to specifically target tumor cells. Various anticancer agents have been encapsulated with dendrimers complexing with aptamers, including epirubicin, camptothecin, Bcl-xL short hairpin (sh)RNA, and 5-fluorouracil rhodamine-labeled dextran. Other types of polymeric nanoparticle (NP)-aptamer bioconjugates have also been developed and loaded with Pt(IV) derivatives, to target specific tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Mignani
- Université Paris Descartes, PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 860, Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologique, 45, rue des Saints Peres, 75006 Paris, France; CQM - Centro de Química da Madeira, MMRG, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal.
| | - Xangyang Shi
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
| | - Valentin Ceña
- CIBERNED, ISCII, Madrid, Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Almansa, 14, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Jean-Pierre Majoral
- Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077, Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Université Toulouse 118 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
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Emerging Therapeutic RNAs for the Targeting of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061365. [PMID: 32466591 PMCID: PMC7352655 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor mass consists of a complex ensemble of malignant cancer cells and a wide variety of resident and infiltrating cells, secreted factors, and extracellular matrix proteins that are referred as tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key TME components that support tumor growth, generating a physical barrier against drugs and immune infiltration, and contributing to regulate malignant progression. Thus, it is largely accepted that therapeutic approaches aimed at hampering the interactions between tumor cells and CAFs can enhance the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatments. In this view, nucleic acid therapeutics have emerged as promising molecules. Here, we summarize recent knowledge about their role in the regulation of CAF transformation and tumor-promoting functions, highlighting their therapeutic utility and challenges.
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Affinito A, Quintavalle C, Esposito CL, Roscigno G, Giordano C, Nuzzo S, Ricci-Vitiani L, Scognamiglio I, Minic Z, Pallini R, Berezovski MV, de Francisis V, Condorelli G. Targeting Ephrin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase A2 with a Selective Aptamer for Glioblastoma Stem Cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 20:176-185. [PMID: 32169805 PMCID: PMC7068199 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite the benefits associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment, most patients experience a relapse following initial therapy. Recurrent or progressive GBM usually does not respond anymore to standard therapy, and this is associated with poor patient outcome. GBM stem cells (GSCs) are a subset of cells resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and play a role in tumor recurrence. The targeting of GSCs and the identification of novel markers are crucial issues in the development of innovative strategies for GBM eradication. By differential cell SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment), we have recently described two RNA aptamers, that is, the 40L sequence and its truncated form A40s, able to bind the cell surface of human GSCs. Both aptamers were selective for stem-like growing GBM cells and are rapidly internalized into target cells. In this study, we demonstrate that their binding to cells is mediated by direct recognition of the ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2). Functionally, the two aptamers were able to inhibit cell growth, stemness, and migration of GSCs. Furthermore, A40s was able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and was stable in serum in in vitro experiments. These results suggest that 40L and A40s represent innovative potential therapeutic tools for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Affinito
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Via Tommaso de Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy; Percuros B.V., Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Cristina Quintavalle
- Percuros B.V., Enschede, the Netherlands; IEOS, CNR, Via Tommaso de Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | | | - Giuseppina Roscigno
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Via Tommaso de Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Catello Giordano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Via Tommaso de Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Ricci-Vitiani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Iolanda Scognamiglio
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Via Tommaso de Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Zoran Minic
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; John L. Holmes Mass Spectrometry Facility, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Roberto Pallini
- Institute of Neurosurgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Maxim V Berezovski
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; John L. Holmes Mass Spectrometry Facility, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | | | - Gerolama Condorelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Via Tommaso de Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed-Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Pozzilli, Pozzilli, Italy.
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