Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a protein usually found on the apical surface of most normal secretory epithelial cells. However, in most adenocarcinomas, MUC1 is overexpressed, so that it not only appears over the entire cell surface, but is also shed as MUC1 fragments into the blood stream. These phenomena pinpoint MUC1 as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer; consequently, interest has increased in MUC1 as a molecular target for overcoming cancer therapy challenges. MUC1 currently ranks second among 75 antigen candidates for cancer vaccines, and different antibodies or aptamers against MUC1 protein are proving useful for tracing cancer cells in the emerging field of targeted delivery. The unique properties of MUC1 aptamers as novel targeting agents, and the revolutionary role that MUC1 now plays in cancer therapy, are the focus of this review. Recent advancements in MUC1‐targeted cancer therapy are also assessed.

中文翻译：

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抗MUC1适体：潜在的癌症治疗机会

粘蛋白1（MUC1）是通常在大多数正常分泌性上皮细胞的顶表面上发现的一种蛋白质。但是，在大多数腺癌中，MUC1过度表达，因此它不仅出现在整个细胞表面，而且还会因MUC1片段进入血流而脱落。这些现象使MUC1成为诊断和治疗癌症的潜在靶点。因此，人们对作为克服癌症治疗挑战的分子靶标的MUC1的兴趣有所增加。目前，MUC1在癌症疫苗的75种抗原候选物中排名第二，并且针对MUC1蛋白的不同抗体或适体已被证明可用于追踪新兴的靶向递送领域中的癌细胞。MUC1适体作为新型靶向剂的独特性质，以及MUC1现在在癌症治疗中所起的革命性作用，是这次审查的重点。还评估了针对MUC1的癌症治疗的最新进展。