DNA aptamers selection for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2020 Aug 1;30(15):127278. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127278. Epub 2020 May 23.

Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein antigen generally used for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring of several types of tumors, including colorectal cancer. Nucleic acid aptamers are DNA or RNA oligonucleotides capable of binding with high specificity and affinity to a molecular target. The aim of this study was to obtain aptamers specific to CEA for use as radiopharmaceuticals in colorectal cancer diagnosis. Five aptamers were selected through the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponencial Enrichment (SELEX) and tested using T84 (CEA+) and Hela (CEA-) cells. Apta 3 and Apta 5 showed the best results presenting high specificity and affinity for T84 cells, with dissociation constants (Kd) of 60.4 ± 5.7 nM and 37.8 ± 5.8 nM, respectively. These results indicate that Apta 3 and Apta 5 are promising candidates for identifying tumor cells that overexpress CEA.

Keywords: Carcinoembryonic antigen; Colorectal cancer; DNA aptamer; SELEX.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry*
  • SELEX Aptamer Technique*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • Radiopharmaceuticals