The Screening of Aptamer-Gastric Cancer for Targeting Gastric Cancer Cells

Background: The study aims to investigate the potential of aptamers as diagnostic and targeted therapeutic tools for gastric cancer (GC) and other cancer types through the cell-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (cell-SELEX) process. GC is associated with high global incidence rates and a substantial lack of effective targeted therapies. Aptamers have emerged as a promising innovation for both the diagnosis and targeted treatment of various cancers.Methods: Cell-SELEX process was employed to screen for aptamers specific to GC cells, utilizing the GC cell lines HGC-27, MKN-45, SNU-638, and NUGC-3 as target cells. Aptamer affinity, specificity, and biological properties were evaluated through flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry was utilized to identify potential target proteins.Results: Aptamer-gastric cancer (APT-GC) is efficiently internalized by GC cell lines (HGC-27, MKN-45, SNU-638, NUGC-3) through receptor-mediated endocytosis at concentrations up to 300 nM, with intracellular stability for at least 2 hours and stability in serum for up to 6 hours. Furthermore, APT-GC is internalized by various cancer cell types, suggesting its potential for broad application in pan-cancer diagnosis and treatment.Conclusion: APT-GC exhibits high affinity for GC cells and can also be internalized by diverse cancer cell types, positioning it as a versatile diagnostic and therapeutic agent for a wide range of cancers.