A review of RGD-functionalized nonviral gene delivery vectors for cancer therapy.

The development of effective treatments that enable many patients suffering from cancer to be successfully cured is highly demanded. Angiogenesis, which is a process for the formation of new capillary blood vessels, has a crucial role in solid tumor progression and the development of metastasis. Antiangiogenic therapy designed to prevent tumor angiogenesis, thereby arresting the growth or spread of tumors, has emerged as a non-invasive and safe option for cancer treatment. Due to the fact that integrin receptors are overexpressed on the surface of angiogenic endothelial cells, various strategies have been made to develop targeted delivery systems for cancer gene therapy utilizing integrin-targeting peptides with an exposed arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) sequence. The aim of this review is to summarize the progress and prospect of RGD-functionalized nonviral vectors toward targeted delivery of genetic materials in order to achieve an efficient therapeutic outcome for cancer gene therapy, including antiangiogenic therapy.