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Related Concept Videos

Telomeres and Telomerase02:41

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
Replicative Cell Senescence02:15

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Telomeres and Telomerase02:41

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells01:18

Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells

A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...

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Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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Same author

Telomerase RNA levels limit the telomere length equilibrium.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2007
Same author

Telomere length, telomere-binding proteins, and DNA damage signaling.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2003
Same author

Cellular responses to telomere shortening: cellular senescence as a tumor suppressor mechanism.

Harvey lectures·2002
Same author

The shortest telomere, not average telomere length, is critical for cell viability and chromosome stability.

Cell·2001
Same author

Tetrahymena proteins p80 and p95 are not core telomerase components.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2001
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Telomere dysfunction increases mutation rate and genomic instability.

Cell·2001

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
11:28

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics

Published on: May 11, 2016

Telomerase and cancer stem cells.

M Armanios1, C W Greider

  • 1Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.

Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
|July 28, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Telomerase is crucial for stem cells. This study suggests cancer may involve increased telomerase activity, not reactivation, in stem cells, impacting cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • Telomerase maintains telomere length, essential for stem cell integrity.
  • Mutations in telomerase cause stem cell failure (e.g., dyskeratosis congenita).
  • Telomerase is active in most cancers but typically absent in adult somatic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the telomere hypothesis of cancer in light of stem cell origins.
  • To propose alternative mechanisms for increased telomerase activity during carcinogenesis.
  • To inform strategies for telomerase inhibition in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing evidence on telomerase, stem cells, and cancer.
  • Analysis of the telomere hypothesis in the context of stem cell carcinogenesis.

More Related Videos

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells
09:13

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells

Published on: January 17, 2019

Obtaining Cancer Stem Cell Spheres from Gynecological and Breast Cancer Tumors
07:01

Obtaining Cancer Stem Cell Spheres from Gynecological and Breast Cancer Tumors

Published on: March 1, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
11:28

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics

Published on: May 11, 2016

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells
09:13

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells

Published on: January 17, 2019

Obtaining Cancer Stem Cell Spheres from Gynecological and Breast Cancer Tumors
07:01

Obtaining Cancer Stem Cell Spheres from Gynecological and Breast Cancer Tumors

Published on: March 1, 2020

  • Theoretical modeling of telomerase activity changes during cancer development.

    • Main Results:

    • Evidence suggests certain cancers originate from stem cells already possessing telomerase.
    • Telomerase reactivation may not be the sole mechanism; increased activity is plausible.
    • Increased expression or assembly of telomerase components could elevate activity.

    Conclusions:

    • The traditional telomere hypothesis needs revision for stem cell-derived cancers.
    • Elevated telomerase activity, rather than reactivation, is a key factor in later carcinogenesis stages.
    • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing effective telomerase-targeted cancer therapies.