A «Trojan horse» for glioblastoma: targeted aptamer delivery strategy

Gliomas are among the most aggressive primary brain tumors characterized by extremely poor prognosis. Despite standard therapy including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, median survival remains extremely low. The main obstacles to effective treatment are tumor heterogeneity, blood-brain barrier and difficult targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. This review examines potential of aptamers as an alternative to traditional approaches. A particular attention is paid to mechanisms of aptamer cross-breeding and cellular internalization, particularly receptor-mediated endocytosis. The last one is essential for efficient penetration of these molecules into tumor cells. Analysis of current data demonstrates that aptamers specific to glioma cell surface markers not only provide highly accurate tumor imaging but also open new opportunities for target delivery of therapeutic agents. It is a promising tool for personalized glioblastoma therapy.