Abstract

TELOMERASE IS A GOOD TARGET FOR CANCER TREATMENT

Priyanka V. Bandivadekar*, Shraddha A. Phadke, Sunita Patil and Tejshree Sonawne

Abstract

Telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein enzyme maintaining the telomeres of eukaryotic chromosomes, is active in most human cancers and in germ line cells Telomerase plays a key role in cell fate: loss of telomerase in normal differentiated cells Heralds senescence and limits cell division, whereas reactivation of telomerase sustains Proliferation and potentiates mutagenesis and transformation. Given this pivotal role, Telomerase has been the subject of intense investigation in the field of developmental cancer therapeutics which lead to telomere shortening and cessation of unrestrained proliferation a broad spectrum of therapeutic strategies has been Developed, ranging from direct targeting or reprogramming of the enzyme, to immune or Virus-mediated targeting of cells expressing telomerase, to strategies focusing on the Telomeres themselves we will review the mechanistic rationale and preclinical and clinical state of development of the various telomerase-based therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: telomerase, senescence, proliferation, mutagenesis.