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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
08:34

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Published on: April 13, 2015

Telomerase activation. One step on the road to cancer?

C W Greider1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. cgreider@jhmi.edu

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|May 1, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Telomerase, an enzyme crucial for cell immortality, is now recognized as a key player in cancer. Research shows MYC and TERT cooperate with HPV E7, solidifying telomerase's role among elite cancer genes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Telomeres shorten in cancer cells, while telomerase is active in immortal cells.
  • Telomerase has long been investigated for its potential role in cancer.
  • Recent focus has shifted to oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes in cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of telomerase in cancer.
  • To explore the relationship between MYC, TERT, and HPV E7 in cell immortalization.
  • To establish telomerase as a significant cancer-associated factor.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gene expression and function.
  • Investigating the upregulation of TERT by MYC.
  • Studying the cooperative effects of TERT and HPV E7 in cell immortalization.

Main Results:

  • MYC was found to upregulate the catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT.
  • TERT demonstrated cooperation with HPV E7 in achieving cell immortalization.
  • These findings support telomerase's classification among critical cancer genes.

Conclusions:

  • Telomerase plays a significant role in cancer development and progression.
  • The interplay between MYC, TERT, and HPV E7 is crucial for cellular immortalization.
  • Telomerase is now considered a key factor within the elite group of cancer genes.

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