Aptamers as Potential Therapeutic Tools for Ovarian Cancer: Advancements and Challenges

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Aptamers are versatile molecules for cancer treatment. They can be used to target specific molecules, conjugated to additional nucleic acid moieties or payloads. In this review, we will summarize the advancements and challenges related to the use of aptamers for the treatment of ovarian cancer. We will specifically focus on aptamers as therapeutics alone or conjugated to non-coding RNA, nanoparticles, and multivalent aptamers, highlighting their potential as therapeutics by providing an overview of the latest advancements in the field reported in the literature and discussing the main challenges that need to be overcome to improve the effectiveness of aptamers for the treatment of ovarian cancer. 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.