Nucleic acid nanotechnology for cancer treatment

Jun-O Jin; Gyurin Kim; Juyoung Hwang; Kyung Ho Han; Minseok Kwak; Peter C W Lee

doi:10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188377

Nucleic acid nanotechnology for cancer treatment

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2020 Aug;1874(1):188377. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188377. Epub 2020 May 11.

Authors

Jun-O Jin¹, Gyurin Kim², Juyoung Hwang³, Kyung Ho Han⁴, Minseok Kwak⁵, Peter C W Lee⁶

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea. Electronic address: jinjo@yu.ac.kr.
² Department of Chemistry, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea.
³ Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, ASAN Medical Center, Seoul 05505, South Korea.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea; DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany. Electronic address: mkwak@pukyong.ac.kr.
⁶ Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, ASAN Medical Center, Seoul 05505, South Korea. Electronic address: pclee@amc.seoul.kr.

PMID: 32418899
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188377

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most prevalent potentially lethal diseases. With the increase in the number of investigations into the uses of nanotechnology, many nucleic acid (NA)-based nanostructures such as small interfering RNA, microRNA, aptamers, and immune adjuvant NA have been applied to treat cancer. Here, we discuss studies on the applications of NA in cancer treatment, recent research trends, and the limitations and prospects of specific NA-mediated gene therapy and immunotherapy for cancer treatment. The NA structures used for cancer therapy consist only of NA or hybrids comprising organic or inorganic substances integrated with functional NA. We also discuss delivery vehicles for therapeutic NA and anti-cancer agents, and recent trends in NA-based gene therapy and immunotherapy against cancer.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Gene therapy; Immunotherapy; Nanoparticle; Nucleic acid.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
Adjuvants, Immunologic / genetics
Animals
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
Aptamers, Nucleotide / administration & dosage*
Aptamers, Nucleotide / genetics
Cell Line, Tumor
Clinical Trials as Topic
Disease Models, Animal
Drug Carriers / chemistry
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / immunology
Genetic Therapy / methods
Humans
Immunotherapy / methods
MicroRNAs / administration & dosage*
MicroRNAs / genetics
Nanomedicine / methods*
Nanoparticles / chemistry
Neoplasms / genetics
Neoplasms / immunology
Neoplasms / therapy*
RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Adjuvants, Immunologic
Aptamers, Nucleotide
Drug Carriers
MicroRNAs
RNA, Small Interfering