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.
卵巢癌是全球女性最常见的致死性妇科恶性肿瘤，其死亡率高且发病率呈上升趋势。尽管治疗手段有所进步，但由于诊断延迟、缺乏有效诊断方法及疾病复发，多数卵巢癌患者仍死于该疾病。适配体作为人工合成的短链单链寡核苷酸，已成为前景广阔的抗癌治疗工具。其选择性结合靶标分子（包括癌症相关蛋白和受体）的能力，为药物研发和生物标志物鉴定带来了革命性突破。适配体为揭示癌症发生发展的分子通路提供了独特视角。此外，作为药物递送系统，适配体展现出巨大潜力，能够实现治疗药物对癌细胞的靶向递送，同时最大限度地减少脱靶效应并降低全身毒性。在卵巢癌治疗领域，适配体与非编码RNA的整合为实现精准高效的基因靶向提供了新途径。适配体与纳米颗粒的偶联技术，更可实现非编码RNA向特定细胞、组织或器官的精确靶向递送。本综述将系统总结适配体单独应用，以及适配体-非编码RNA偶联物、纳米颗粒和多价适配体疗法在卵巢癌治疗中的潜在应用价值与面临挑战。
Aptamers as Potential Therapeutic Tools for Ovarian Cancer: Advancements and Challenges
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家