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Szymanowski W, Szymanowska A, Bielawska A, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Amero P. Aptamers as Potential Therapeutic Tools for Ovarian Cancer: Advancements and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5300. [PMID: 37958473 PMCID: PMC10647731 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common lethal gynecologic cause of death in women worldwide, with a high mortality rate and increasing incidence. Despite advancements in the treatment, most OC patients still die from their disease due to late-stage diagnosis, the lack of effective diagnostic methods, and relapses. Aptamers, synthetic, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, have emerged as promising anticancer therapeutics. Their ability to selectively bind to target molecules, including cancer-related proteins and receptors, has revolutionized drug discovery and biomarker identification. Aptamers offer unique insights into the molecular pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Moreover, they show immense potential as drug delivery systems, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects and reducing systemic toxicity. In the context of OC, the integration of aptamers with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) presents an opportunity for precise and efficient gene targeting. Additionally, the conjugation of aptamers with nanoparticles allows for accurate and targeted delivery of ncRNAs to specific cells, tissues, or organs. In this review, we will summarize the potential use and challenges associated with the use of aptamers alone or aptamer-ncRNA conjugates, nanoparticles, and multivalent aptamer-based therapeutics for the treatment of OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Szymanowski
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Szymanowska
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paola Amero
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
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Lendzion K, Gornowicz A, Strawa JW, Bielawska K, Czarnomysy R, Popławska B, Bielawski K, Tomczyk M, Miltyk W, Bielawska A. LC-PDA-MS and GC-MS Analysis of Scorzonera hispanica Seeds and Their Effects on Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911584. [PMID: 36232888 PMCID: PMC9569732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Scorzonera hispanica is an herbaceous perennial cultivated in Central and Southern Europe. This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the composition of oil, extracts, and fractions (SH1-SH12) obtained from S. hispanica seeds. Furthermore, an evaluation of biological activities in breast cancer cell lines was also performed. GC-MS analysis revealed that the primary components of the seed oil (SH12) were fatty acids and β-sitosterol. In the evaluation of extracts (SH1-SH3, SH8-SH10) and fractions (SH4-SH7, SH11) composition, the presence of apigenin, derivatives of p-coumaric and caffeic acids, was reported. In the biological assays, methanolic extract (SH1), diethyl ether (SH4), and chloroform (SH11) fractions exhibited cytotoxicity toward cells. The highest activity was observed for fatty acids- and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamate-rich SH11 (IC50: 399.18 μg/mL for MCF-7, 781.26 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231). SH11 was also observed to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells (52.4%). SH1, SH4, and SH11 attenuate signaling pathways and affect the expression of apoptosis-, autophagy-, and inflammation-related proteins. SH12 was non-toxic toward either cancer or normal cell lines in concentrations up to 1 mg/mL. The results suggest that S. hispanica seeds exhibit a wide range of potential uses as a source of oil and bioactive compounds for complementary therapy of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Lendzion
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Agnieszka Gornowicz
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Jakub W. Strawa
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2A, 15-230 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bielawska
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2D, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Robert Czarnomysy
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Bożena Popławska
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Bielawski
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Michał Tomczyk
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2A, 15-230 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Wojciech Miltyk
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2D, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
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