Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid or peptide molecules that can specifically bind to target molecules, making them promising candidates for targeted cancer therapy. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, which often cause severe side effects due to their lack of specificity, aptamers can be designed to target cancer cells with high precision, reducing damage to healthy cells. They are typically generated through the SELEX process, which involves iterative rounds of selection and enrichment to identify aptamers with high affinity and specificity for their targets. Aptamers can act as drugs themselves or be used in targeted drug delivery systems to deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumor cells. Aptamers offer several advantages over traditional therapies, including their small size, stability, and ability to be chemically modified. They can be used in various forms, such as therapeutic aptamers, aptamer-drug conjugates, aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles, and aptamer-mediated immunotherapy. These approaches can enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment while minimizing toxicity. However, challenges remain in the clinical application of aptamers, including their susceptibility to degradation and the need for further research to optimize their properties. Recent advances in computational methods and bioinformatics have improved the design and optimization of aptamers, enabling more efficient identification of high-affinity and specific aptamers. Additionally, the use of aptamers in combination with other therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, has shown promise in enhancing treatment outcomes. Despite these advancements, aptamers are still in the early stages of clinical development, and further research is needed to fully realize their potential in cancer treatment. Ongoing studies are exploring the use of aptamers in various cancer therapies, including targeted drug delivery, radiosensitization, and immunotherapy, with the goal of improving the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatment.Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid or peptide molecules that can specifically bind to target molecules, making them promising candidates for targeted cancer therapy. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, which often cause severe side effects due to their lack of specificity, aptamers can be designed to target cancer cells with high precision, reducing damage to healthy cells. They are typically generated through the SELEX process, which involves iterative rounds of selection and enrichment to identify aptamers with high affinity and specificity for their targets. Aptamers can act as drugs themselves or be used in targeted drug delivery systems to deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumor cells. Aptamers offer several advantages over traditional therapies, including their small size, stability, and ability to be chemically modified. They can be used in various forms, such as therapeutic aptamers, aptamer-drug conjugates, aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles, and aptamer-mediated immunotherapy. These approaches can enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment while minimizing toxicity. However, challenges remain in the clinical application of aptamers, including their susceptibility to degradation and the need for further research to optimize their properties. Recent advances in computational methods and bioinformatics have improved the design and optimization of aptamers, enabling more efficient identification of high-affinity and specific aptamers. Additionally, the use of aptamers in combination with other therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, has shown promise in enhancing treatment outcomes. Despite these advancements, aptamers are still in the early stages of clinical development, and further research is needed to fully realize their potential in cancer treatment. Ongoing studies are exploring the use of aptamers in various cancer therapies, including targeted drug delivery, radiosensitization, and immunotherapy, with the goal of improving the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatment.