Open AccessThe potential utility of telomere‐related markers for cancer diagnosis
Author(s) -
Heaphy Christopher M.,
Meeker Alan K.
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.1582-4934.2011.01284.x
Subject(s) - telomere , telomerase , shelterin , biology , cancer , telomere binding protein , genome instability , prostate cancer , cancer research , genetics , gene , dna , dna damage , dna binding protein , transcription factor
• Introduction• Methods for telomere length and telomerase detection• Telomere length as a potential diagnostic marker in cancer‐ Breast cancer‐ Prostate cancer‐ Other cancer types• Telomerase activity as a potential diagnostic marker in cancer‐ Breast cancer‐ Prostate cancer‐ Other cancer types• Future directions• ConclusionsThe role telomeres and telomerase play in the initiation and progression of human cancers has been extensively evaluated. Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes comprising the hexanucleotide DNA repeat sequence, TTAGGG and numerous telomere‐associated proteins, including the six member Shelterin complex. The main function of the telomere is to stabilize the ends of the chromosomes. However, through multiple mechanisms, telomeres can become dysfunctional, which may drive genomic instability leading to the development of cancer. The majority of human cancers maintain, or actively lengthen, telomeres through up‐regulation of the reverse transcriptase telomerase. Because there are significant differences in telomere length and telomerase activity between malignant and non‐malignant tissues, many investigations have assessed the potential to utilize these molecular markers for cancer diagnosis. Here, we critically evaluate whether measurements of telomere lengths and telomerase levels may be clinically utilized as diagnostic markers in solid tumours, with emphasis on breast and prostate cancer as representative examples. Future directions focusing on the direct detection of dysfunctional telomeres are explored. New markers for telomere dysfunction may eventually prove clinically useful.