Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 3, 2026

In vitro Reconstitution of the Active T. castaneum Telomerase
09:25

In vitro Reconstitution of the Active T. castaneum Telomerase

Published on: July 14, 2011

Telomerase and telomere inhibitors in preclinical development

S Sharma1, E Raymond, H Soda

  • 1Institute for Drug Development, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, 14960 Omicron Drive, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA.

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
|July 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Telomerase is an enzyme crucial for cell division, maintaining chromosome ends. Its selective presence in cancer cells offers potential for targeted cancer therapeutics, with research progressing towards clinical applications.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Telomerase is essential for actively dividing cells to maintain telomere length.
  • Telomerase activity is detected in germline, stem, and cancer cells.
  • Telomerase is typically repressed in normal somatic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current status of telomerase research.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting telomerase in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical and clinical telomerase research.
  • Analysis of telomerase expression patterns in various cell types.

Main Results:

  • Telomerase is selectively expressed in cancer cells, distinguishing them from most somatic cells.
  • Current research is predominantly preclinical but shows promise for clinical translation.

Conclusions:

  • Telomerase's selective expression presents a viable target for novel cancer therapies.
  • Further research and clinical trials are anticipated to validate telomerase-based cancer treatments.

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