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Telomeres and telomerase in normal and cancer stem cells
Author(s) -
Shay Jerry W.,
Wright Woodring E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.05.026
Subject(s) - telomere , telomerase , stem cell , cancer stem cell , biology , cancer cell , stem cell theory of aging , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , genetics , dna , progenitor cell , stem cell factor , gene
Differences between normal adult tissue stem cells and cancer stem/initiating cells remain poorly defined. For example, it is controversial if cancer stem cells can become fully quiescent, require a stem cell niche, are better at repairing DNA damage than the bulk of the cancer cells, and if and how they regulate symmetric versus asymmetric cell divisions. This minireview will not only provide our personal views to address some of these outstanding questions, but also present evidence that an understanding of telomere dynamics and telomerase activity in normal and cancer stem cells may provide additional insights into how tumors are initiated, and how they should be monitored and treated.