Telomeres, telomerase and cancer: an up-date (original) (raw)

Abstract

In the mid 1990s, the hypothesis emerged that the upregulation or re-expression of a telomere- synthesising ribonucleoprotein, called telomerase, is a critical event responsible for continuous tumour cell growth. In contrast to normal cells, in which gradual mitosis-related erosion of telomeres eventually limits replicative life span, tumour cells have telomerase and show no loss of these chromosomal ends. These data suggest that telomere stabilisation may be required for cells to escape replicative senescence and to proliferate indefinitely. Because of the close association between telomerase and malignancy, both pathologists and clinicians expect this molecule to be a useful malignancy-marker and a new therapeutic target. This review focuses on the components of the human telomere and of the human telomerase enzyme. A synopsis of reports studying the clinical–diagnostic value of telomere length measurements, of telomerase activity analyses and of the in situ telomerase detection is given. Finally, a summary of recent experimental work that sheds new light on the biological role of this fascinating molecule is presented.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Pathology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium e-mail: eric.van.marck@uza.uia.ac.be Tel.: +32-3-8213604, Fax: +32-3-8214753, , , , , , BE
    Karl Dhaene & E. Van Marck
  2. Department of Haematopathology, University of Kiel, Niemannsweg 11, D-24105 Kiel, Germany, , , , , , DE
    Reza Parwaresch

Authors

  1. Karl Dhaene
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. E. Van Marck
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Reza Parwaresch
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 25 January 2000

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dhaene, K., Van Marck, E. & Parwaresch, R. Telomeres, telomerase and cancer: an up-date.Virchows Archiv 437, 1–16 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004280000189

Download citation