Seeding drug discovery: integrating telomerase cancer biology and cellular senescence to uncover new therapeutic opportunities in targeting cancer stem cells.
Telomerase activation is a hallmark of cancer. Advancement of telomerase as a therapeutic drug target has paved the way for translational opportunities in the related fields of senescence and cancer stem cells. Here, lessons may be learnt that can be applied to drug discovery, particularly with regard to the need to appreciate the relationships between telomerase, senescence and cancer stem cells. When considered as a time line to clinical trial, targeting of telomerase is leading the way to clinical proof-of-concept, with senescence and the cancer stem cell phenotype driving research concepts vital to maintaining a clinical development pipeline.
Keith
W Nicol
WN
Centre for Oncology and Applied Pharmacology, University of Glasgow, Cancer Research UK Beatson Laboratories, Alexander Stone Building, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, UK. n.kieth@beatson.gla.ac.uk
Thomson
Catherine M
CM
Howcroft
Jill
J
Maitland
Norman J
NJ
Shay
Jerry W
JW
D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D008954:Models, Biological; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D019098:Telomerase