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[Telomere and telomerase as targets for anti-cancer drugs]

Toshinori Ide1

  • 1Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University.

Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine
|July 31, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Telomerase is a key target for anti-cancer drugs, inhibiting cancer cell growth and survival. Combining different telomerase inhibitors accelerates cancer cell death by targeting telomere shortening.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Context:

  • Telomerase is essential for cancer cell survival and proliferation.
  • Cancer cells exhibit specific dependence on telomerase activity.
  • Telomere length maintenance is a hallmark of cancer.

Purpose:

  • To explore telomerase as a molecular target for anti-cancer drug development.
  • To review strategies for inhibiting telomerase activity and cancer cell proliferation.
  • To identify potential new targets for cancer therapy.

Summary:

  • Telomerase, comprising catalytic (hTERT) and template (hTR) subunits, is crucial for cancer cell immortality.
  • Inhibiting telomerase via dominant-negative cDNA, RNAi, or anti-sense RNA halts cancer cell proliferation in vitro.
  • Compounds stabilizing telomere G-quartets and other inhibitors reduce telomerase activity and cancer cell growth.
  • Mutant hTR vectors and telomere binding protein inhibitors offer novel therapeutic avenues.
  • Combination therapies targeting different mechanisms accelerate telomere shortening and cancer cell killing.
  • Menin, a repressor of hTERT expression, represents a future therapeutic target.

Impact:

  • Identifies telomerase and related proteins as promising targets for novel anti-cancer agents.
  • Highlights the potential of combination therapies for enhanced cancer treatment efficacy.
  • Suggests new strategies for developing drugs that modify telomere structure and inhibit telomerase recruitment.

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