Implications of telomerase reverse transcriptase in tumor metastasis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, yet the invasion-metastasis cascade is poorly understood.
• Telomerase is crucial for cancer progression by maintaining telomere homeostasis and genomic stability.
• Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has enzymatic and non-enzymatic functions vital for cancer biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms by which TERT facilitates tumor metastasis.
• To highlight the non-canonical functions of telomerase in cancer progression.
• To provide an update on TERT's role in the invasion-metastasis cascade.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advances in cancer biology and telomerase research.
• Analysis of studies investigating TERT's functions independent of its enzymatic activity.
• Synthesis of evidence linking TERT to various stages of the invasion-metastasis cascade.

Main Results:

• TERT promotes key steps of the invasion-metastasis cascade, including proliferation, inflammation, EMT, angiogenesis, DNA repair, and gene expression.
• Non-canonical TERT functions significantly contribute to cancer cell survival and spread.
• TERT's multifaceted roles extend beyond telomere maintenance, impacting multiple hallmarks of cancer.

Conclusions:

• TERT plays a critical role in facilitating tumor metastasis through diverse non-canonical mechanisms.
• Targeting TERT's non-enzymatic functions may offer novel therapeutic strategies against cancer metastasis.
• Further research into TERT's complex roles is essential for developing effective anti-metastatic treatments.