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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
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Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
Published on: April 13, 2015
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Telomerase-based therapies in haematological malignancies
Ali Rafat1,2,3, Khadijeh Dizaji Asl1,2,3, Zeinab Mazloumi1,3,4
1Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Cell Biochemistry and Function
|February 1, 2022
Summary
Telomere shortening occurs with cell division, but cancer cells activate telomerase to maintain telomere length (TL). This telomere maintenance is crucial for cancer progression and a target for novel therapies.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Telomeres protect chromosome ends but shorten with cell division.
- Shortened telomeres trigger cell death, while cancer cells evade this.
- Telomere maintenance mechanisms are critical in cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review alterations in telomeres and telomerase in hematological malignancies.
- To discuss the role of telomere-associated proteins in these diseases.
- To explore telomerase-based therapeutic strategies for hematological cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on telomeres, telomerase, and hematological malignancies.
- Analysis of telomere length dynamics and telomerase activity in cancer cells.
- Examination of the expression patterns of telomere-associated proteins.
Main Results:
- Telomere shortening (TS) and chromosomal instability are linked to apoptosis.
- Cancer cells often activate telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres to maintain telomere length (TL).
- Altered telomere dynamics, telomerase activation, and protein expression are common in hematological malignancies, impacting disease progression and treatment response.
Conclusions:
- Telomerase activation is a hallmark of most cancers, maintaining telomere length and enabling continuous proliferation.
- Dysregulation of telomeres and telomerase plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies.
- Targeting telomerase presents a promising therapeutic avenue for treating these cancers.
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