title: Telomerase activity and clinical progression in chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of B-cell lineage.
abstract: The activation of telomerase, which specifically occurs in neoplastic cells to avoid telomere attrition at each cell division, is a necessary event in tumorigenesis. The evidence that telomerase is also present in normal B cells at different levels according to their differentiation and activation state makes the study of telomerase activity in B cell tumors particularly interesting. This review summarizes data concerning telomerase activity in chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of B-cell lineage (B-CLD), making suggestions regarding B-cell development and B-cell tumor histogenesis. The role of telomerase activity as a potential prognostic marker, as well as a target of new antineoplastic strategies is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Surgical Sciences, Section of Oncology, University of Padova, via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ballon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trentin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Rossi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Semenzato
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019098:Telomerase