Aptamer name | Type | Target | RNA or DNA | Modification | Function | Refs. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RNA Aptamer | Antagonistic | CTLA-4 | RNA | – | Inhibition of CTLA-4 functions and enhance tumor immunity in cell and animal models | [124] |
aptCTLA-4 | Antagonistic | CTLA-4 | DNA | – | Promotes lymphocyte proliferation, and inhibits tumor growth in both in vitro and in vivo | [125] |
CTLA4apt–STAT3 siRNA | Antagonistic | CTLA-4 | RNA | Covalently linked to a STAT-3 siRNA | STAT-3 gene silencing in CD8+ infiltrated lymphocytes and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumors and subsequently inhibits tumor growth and metastasis | [126] |
MP7 | Antagonistic | PD-1 | DNA | Conjugated to the polyethylene glycol (PEG) | Inhibits the suppression of IL-2 secretion in primary T-cells and suppresses the tumor growth | [127] |
aptPD-L1 | Antagonistic | PD-L1 | DNA | – | Stimulate lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, suppress tumor growth in vivo, and increase in the levels of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as the cytokines IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ and the C-X-C motif chemokines | [128] |
BSA-Apt | Antagonistic | PD-L1 | DNA | Conjugated to the bovine serum albumin | Stronger antitumor efficacy | [129] |
TIM-3 aptamer | Antagonistic | TIM-3 | DNA | Trimeric form of the TIM-3 aptamer | Reduced cell death, and enhanced survival, proliferation, and cytokine secretion in vitro | [130] |
LAG3 aptamer | Antagonistic | LAG3 | RNA | 2′-fluoro-pyrimidines | Enhances the threshold of T-cell activation | [131] |
4-1BB aptamer | Agonistic | 4-1BB | RNA | Bivalent and multivalent | Stimulate CD8+ T cells and inhibit tumor growth | [132] |
4-1BB bispecific aptamer | Agonistic | 4-1BB | RNA | 2′-fluoro-pyrimidine, conjugated with vascular endothelial growth factor or osteopontin | Enhances the therapeutic index of tumor immunotherapy | [133] |
hOX40 aptamer | Agonistic | OX40 | RNA | 2′-fluoro-pyrimidine and multimerized | Induce proliferation and IFN-γ production in activated human T cells in vitro | [134] |
CD40 agonist aptamers | Agonistic | CD40 | RNA | 2ʹ-fluoropyrimidine | Hastened the improvement of bone marrow aplasia by inducing the reproduction and activation of B cells | [135] |
CD40-blockade aptamer | Antagonist | CD40 | RNA | 2ʹ-fluoropyrimidine | Have a direct antitumor effect on CD40-expressing B-cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo | [135] |
CD40 agonistic aptamer-shRNA chimera | Agonistic | CD40 | RNA | 2ʹ-fluoropyrimidine, and linked with a short hairpin RNA targeting serine/threonine protein kinase | Enhancing tumor antigenicity by NMD inhibition and improvement in tumor infiltration and overall survival in vivo | [135] |
CD28Apt2 and CD28Apt7 | Agonistic | CD28 | RNA | 2ʹ-fluoropyrimidine and dimerization | Increasing the cellular immune system response and prolong the survival of mice | [136] |
X-polymers | Antagonistic and Agonistic | CTLA-4 and CD28 | RNA | CAR-like multivalent aptamer nanoparticles | Increase T cell proliferation and reverse the inhibitory effect of IL-2, and suppress the growth of mouse melanoma B16 cells both in vitro and in vivo | [137] |
APT-β1 | Inhibitors of immunosuppressive cytokines | TGF-β1 | RNA | Combined with gefitinib | Enhanced the anti-tumor effect, and inhibit the regrowth of lung cancer | [138] |
R5A1 aptamer | Inhibitors of immunosuppressive cytokines | IL-10 receptor | RNA | – | Inhibit CT26 tumor growth in mice | [123] |