Telomerase inhibitors

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Updated: Oct 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

L K White1, W E Wright, J W Shay

  • 1Depts of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390-9039, USA.

Trends in Biotechnology
|February 17, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Telomerase research is rapidly advancing, exploring enzyme inhibition as a novel cancer treatment. This review covers telomere and telomerase basics, current therapeutic approaches, and future prospects in oncology.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Telomeres protect chromosome ends, and their shortening is linked to cellular aging.
  • Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomere length, often reactivated in cancer cells.
  • Dysregulation of telomere maintenance is a hallmark of cancer, driving tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a foundational understanding of telomeres and telomerase.
  • To review current pre-clinical strategies for inhibiting telomerase activity.
  • To discuss the potential and challenges of telomerase inhibitors as anti-cancer therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pre-clinical studies on telomerase inhibition.
  • Analysis of various therapeutic approaches targeting telomerase.
  • Discussion of future directions and potential clinical applications.

Main Results:

  • Multiple pre-clinical strategies for telomerase inhibition are under investigation.
  • Telomerase inhibitors show promise as a novel anti-cancer therapeutic modality.
  • Significant challenges remain in developing effective and safe telomerase-targeting drugs.

Conclusions:

  • Telomerase inhibition represents a promising area for cancer therapy development.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges and translate pre-clinical findings into clinical success.
  • The future of telomerase-targeted cancer treatment holds significant potential for improving patient outcomes.

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