The evolving role of telomerase inhibitors in the treatment of cancer.
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that maintains telomeres and is essential for cellular immortality and tumour growth. The differential expression of telomerase in cancer cells makes it an attractive therapeutic target. Anti-sense oligonucleotides directed against the RNA template of hTR and small molecules that can interact and stabilise the G-quadruplex represent promising therapeutic strategies. Human trials investigating the potential role of the catalytic subunit hTERT as a universal cancer vaccine have already commenced. Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) and efficacy delay remain important limitations to anti-telomerase therapy.
Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Brunel University, and St George's and the Princess Grace Hospitals, London, UK. kefahmokbel@hotmail.com
Kefah
K
Mokbel
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
D019098:Telomerase