Open AccessTargeting telomerase‐expressing cancer cells
Author(s) -
Ouellette Michel M.,
Wright Woodring E.,
Shay Jerry W.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01279.x
Subject(s) - telomerase , telomere , oncolytic virus , cancer , biology , cancer research , genetic enhancement , cancer cell , cancer therapy , senescence , telomerase reverse transcriptase , computational biology , bioinformatics , gene , genetics
• Targeting telomerase‐expressing cancer cells• Human telomeres act as a mitotic clock• Telomerase expression and cellular lifespan‐ Telomerase inhibition to block tumour growth• Telomerase‐targeted immunotherapy• Targeting telomerase‐expressing cells with oncolytic viruses• Concluding remarksThe role of telomeres and telomerase as a target for cancer therapeutics is an area of continuing interest. This review is intended to provide an update on the field, pointing to areas in which our knowledge remains deficient and exploring the details of the most promising areas being advanced into clinical trials. Topics that will be covered include the role of dysfunctional telomeres in cellular aging and how replicative senescence provides an initial barrier to the emergence of immortalized cells, a hallmark of cancer. As an important translational theme, this review will consider possibilities for selectively targeting telomeres and telomerase to enhance cancer therapy. The role of telomerase as an immunotherapy, as a gene therapy approach using telomerase promoter driven oncolytic viruses and as a small oligonucleotide targeted therapy (Imetelstat) will be discussed.