Methods and compositions for the treatment of cancer

Abstract

Described herein are methods and compositions relating to the treatment of cancer, e.g., breast cancer, using, e.g., aptamer-siRNA chimera molecules.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
       1. A method of treating cancer, the method comprising administering a chimeric molecule comprising an EPCAM binding aptamer domain and an inhibitory nucleic acid domain, 
       wherein the inhibitory nucleic acid inhibits the expression of Plk1 
       and wherein the chimeric molecule is an aptamer-siRNA chimera (AsiC) comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is an epithelial cancer, breast cancer or triple-negative breast cancer. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is subcutaneous. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is further administered an additional cancer treatment. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cancer treatment is paclitaxel. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 3′ end of the chimeric molecule comprises dTdT. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chimeric molecule comprises at least one 2′-F pyrimidine.