Identification of a novel RNA aptamer that selectively targets breast cancer exosomes

• Published in: Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids Vol. 23; pp. 982 - 994
• Main Authors: Esposito, Carla Lucia, Quintavalle, Cristina, Ingenito, Francesco, Rotoli, Deborah, Roscigno, Giuseppina, Nuzzo, Silvia, Thomas, Renato, Catuogno, Silvia, de Franciscis, Vittorio, Condorelli, Gerolama
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 05.03.2021; American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy; Elsevier
• Subjects: aptamers; blood; breast cancer; early diagnosis; exosomes; identification; liquid biopsy; Original; SELEX; serum markers; therapy; early diagnosis; identification; exosomes; therapy; serum markers; breast cancer; aptamers; blood; liquid biopsy; SELEX
• ISSN: 2162-2531; 2162-2531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.01.012

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Despite advances in its management, the identification of new options for early-stage diagnosis and therapy of this tumor still represents a crucial challenge. Increasing evidence indicates that extracellular vesicles called exosomes may have great potential as early diagnostic biomarkers and regulators of many cancers, including breast cancer. Therefore, exploiting molecules able to selectively recognize them is of great interest. Here, we developed a novel differential SELEX strategy, called Exo-SELEX, to isolate nucleic acid aptamers against intact exosomes derived from primary breast cancer cells. Among the obtained sequences, we optimized a high-affinity aptamer (ex-50.T) able to specifically recognize exosomes from breast cancer cells or patient serum samples. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the ex.50.T is a functional inhibitor of exosome cellular uptake and antagonizes cancer exosome-induced cell migration in vitro. This molecule provides an innovative tool for the specific exosome detection and the development of new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer. [Display omitted] Extracellular vesicles are important biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer (BC). However, specific tools for their recognition are lacking. Condorelli and colleagues describe the finding of a high-affinity aptamer (ex-50.T) able to specifically target BC exosomes acting as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic tool.