Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 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 targeted therapy in cancer and cancer stem cells

Yucheng Xu1, Kaijie He, Amir Goldkorn

  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology : H&O
|August 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Telomerase is crucial for cell fate and cancer development. Telomerase-based therapies are being developed to target cancer stem cells, offering a promising approach for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Telomerase activity dictates cell fate, controlling senescence and proliferation.
  • Reactivated telomerase in cancer cells promotes uncontrolled growth, mutagenesis, and transformation.
  • Telomerase is a key target in developmental cancer therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanistic rationale behind telomerase-based cancer therapies.
  • To discuss the preclinical and clinical development of these therapeutic strategies.
  • To emphasize the role of telomerase in cancer stem cell biology and its therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on telomerase function in normal and cancer cells.
  • Analysis of various therapeutic strategies targeting telomerase, telomeres, and telomerase-expressing cells.
  • Focus on the intersection of telomerase biology and cancer stem cell research.

Main Results:

  • Multiple therapeutic strategies targeting telomerase have been developed.
  • Telomerase plays a significant role in the biology of cancer stem cells.
  • Telomerase-targeted therapies show potential for neutralizing treatment-resistant cancer stem cells.

Conclusions:

  • Telomerase-based therapies are a promising avenue for cancer treatment, particularly against cancer stem cells.
  • Understanding telomerase's role in cancer stem cells is critical for developing effective therapeutic approaches.
  • Further research and clinical development are warranted for telomerase-targeted cancer therapeutics.

More Related Videos

Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model05:08

Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model

Published on: February 17, 2019

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples07:03

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Published on: October 2, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
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...
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...
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...
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration01:21

Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration

Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...