Telomerase: target for cancer treatment

摘要: Introduction Telomerase, a cellular reverse transcriptase that adds DNA to the ends of chromosomes, is reactivated or up-regulated in vast majority human advanced malignancies, and thus an almost universal target for cancer. Most tumors not only express telomerase, but also have very short telomeres, whereas telomerase activity absent at lower levels normal tissues, which longer telomeres. This relationship between activation telomeres malignancies makes inhibition novel cancer therapeutics. Importantly, mode action inhibitors predicts minimal side effects on stem cells can telomerase. Here we summarize role review current status ongoing clinical trials. chapter will discuss cells. Central questions remaining include: What are key safety concerns, such as effect some telomerase? Do activity? if more quiescent than bulk differentiated tumor cells? Will cancers become resistant inhibitors?