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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
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Telomerase as a Possible Candidate Targeting Therapy in Different Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Salma Aboelela1, Abeer Ashmawy2, Sabry Shaarawy2

  • 1Electron Microscopy Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo Egypt.

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP
|August 29, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Telomerase inhibition using siRNA combined with doxorubicin effectively reduces breast cancer cell viability and induces apoptosis. This combination therapy shows a potentiated cytotoxic effect, offering a promising strategy for breast cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Telomerase is upregulated in most breast cancers, making it a potential therapeutic target.
  • Targeting telomerase may offer a novel approach to breast cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of telomerase inhibition by siRNA on breast cancer cell lines.
  • To evaluate the combined effect of doxorubicin and siRNA treatment on breast cancer cells.
  • To determine if the combination potentiates a faster cellular response to chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Luminal A (MCF-7), triple-negative (MDA-MB-468), and HER-2/neu (SKBR-3) human breast cancer cell lines.
  • Inhibited telomerase using hTERT siRNA and treated with doxorubicin.
  • Assessed telomerase activity (TRAP assay), cell viability (MTT assay), and apoptosis (SEM, Caspase-3/-8 ELISA).

Main Results:

  • hTERT siRNA reduced telomerase activity (>90%) and cell viability (>60%) in most cell lines within 72 hours.
  • The combination of hTERT siRNA and doxorubicin demonstrated a cumulative effect compared to monotherapy (P < 0.05).
  • Scanning electron microscopy confirmed apoptotic morphological changes in treated cells.

Conclusions:

  • Telomerase inhibition is a promising strategy for effective breast cancer treatment.
  • Combining telomerase inhibition with doxorubicin potentiates the drug's cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells.
  • This combination approach may enhance chemotherapy efficacy in breast cancer.
Keywords:
Telomerasebreast cancerdoxorubicinsiRNA

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