Telomeres and telomerase as targets for cancer therapy |
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Authors: | S Zimmermann U M Martens |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Hematology/Oncology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | Telomeres are protective structures located at the ends of all eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomere shortening upon cell division
restricts the proliferative capacity of most normal human cells due to the lack of telomerase, an enzyme synthesizing telomeric
DNA de novo. Since most tumor cells are reliant on the activity of telomerase to maintain the stability of predominantly short individual
telomeres, inhibition of this enzyme presents an attractive approach for a mechanism-based anticancer therapy. Here, we review
advances and obstacles in targeting telomerase and telomeres and discuss potential applications of such approaches for the
clinic.
Received 9 November 2006; received after revision 8 December 2006; accepted 17 January 2007 |
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