Advances in cancer stem cell markers and their targeting aptamers.

Shangyang PAN; Wenjing ZHANG; Xiaoyang CHEN; Yan LIU; Ruolan CHEN; Shuyue MENG; Zhao YANG

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Advances in cancer stem cell markers and their targeting aptamers.

Author: Shangyang PAN ¹ ; Wenjing ZHANG ¹ ; Xiaoyang CHEN ¹ ; Yan LIU ¹ ; Ruolan CHEN ¹ ; Shuyue MENG ¹ ; Zhao YANG ¹
Author Information

1. Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnostics, State Key Laboratory of Green Biomanufacturing, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
Publication Type:English Abstract
Keywords: aptamers; cancer stem cells; drug delivery systems; surface markers; targeted treatment
MeSH: Humans; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism*; Aptamers, Nucleotide/therapeutic use*; Drug Delivery Systems/methods*; Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*; Animals; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; AC133 Antigen; Hyaluronan Receptors
From: Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3008-3020
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death globally and has surpassed cardiovascular diseases to become the primary cause of mortality in developed countries. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which play crucial roles in cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, have attracted significant attention in targeted therapeutic strategies. Aptamers, with unique three-dimensional structures capable of specifically recognizing the surface markers of CSCs, show promising potential in targeted drug delivery systems. Compared with conventional antibodies, aptamers are praised for small molecular weights, low production costs, and easy chemical modification. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in aptamer research targeting the surface markers of CSCs, with particular emphasis on aptamer-drug conjugate systems targeting the markers including EpCAM, CD133, CD44, and ABCG2. Both in vitro cellular studies and in vivo animal models have demonstrated the definite anti-cancer efficacy of aptamer-based drug delivery systems, which are of great significance to develop novel therapeutic strategies and improving the therapeutic effects of CSC-targeted treatment. Thus, aptamer-based drug delivery system has broad application prospects in the field of precise cancer treatment.