Abstract
The telomere-telomerase system has a unique role in the biology of cancer. Telomere maintenance, mostly affected by the up regulation of telomerase activity, is a prerequisite for perpetuation of malignant cells. This fundamental biologic feature defines telomere maintenance as an attractive therapeutic target for most types of cancer. This review summarizes some critical aspects of telomere biology with special emphasis on the connection to anticancer therapy. In particular, the effects on the telomere - telomerase system of conventional anticancer treatments, including various cytotoxic drugs, targeted biological agents and radiotherapy, and their possible combination with telomerase-directed therapy are discussed. Several potential problems, including side effects and complications inherent to perturbations of telomere biology in normal cells, are also highlighted. In spite of significant progress in this field, there are still several issues that have to be addressed and ultimately resolved in order to obtain a better characterization of the pros and cons of telomerasedirected therapies and, consequently, their clinical relevance.
Keywords: Chemotherapy, telomeres, telomerase, radiotherapy.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Conventional Anticancer Therapeutics and Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms
Volume: 20 Issue: 41
Author(s): Orit Uziel and Meir Lahav
Affiliation:
Keywords: Chemotherapy, telomeres, telomerase, radiotherapy.
Abstract: The telomere-telomerase system has a unique role in the biology of cancer. Telomere maintenance, mostly affected by the up regulation of telomerase activity, is a prerequisite for perpetuation of malignant cells. This fundamental biologic feature defines telomere maintenance as an attractive therapeutic target for most types of cancer. This review summarizes some critical aspects of telomere biology with special emphasis on the connection to anticancer therapy. In particular, the effects on the telomere - telomerase system of conventional anticancer treatments, including various cytotoxic drugs, targeted biological agents and radiotherapy, and their possible combination with telomerase-directed therapy are discussed. Several potential problems, including side effects and complications inherent to perturbations of telomere biology in normal cells, are also highlighted. In spite of significant progress in this field, there are still several issues that have to be addressed and ultimately resolved in order to obtain a better characterization of the pros and cons of telomerasedirected therapies and, consequently, their clinical relevance.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Uziel Orit and Lahav Meir, Conventional Anticancer Therapeutics and Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (41) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140630100130
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140630100130 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Metabolism and Distribution of Novel Tumor Targeting Drugs In Vivo
Current Drug Metabolism Prospects for Clinical Introduction of Nitroimidazole Antibiotics for the Treatment of Tuberculosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Potentials and Challenges of Active Targeting at the Tumor Cells by Engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Histone Lysine-Specific Methyltransferases and Demethylases in Carcinogenesis: New Targets for Cancer Therapy and Prevention
Current Cancer Drug Targets Receptor Binding Inhibitor Suppresses Carcinogenesis of Cervical Cancer by Depressing Levels of FSHR and ERβ in Mice
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry New Approaches in Glioblastoma Multiforme: The Potential Role of Immune- check Point Inhibitors
Current Cancer Drug Targets Chemistry and Biology of the Cruciferous Phytoalexins Brassinin and Cyclobrassinin
The Natural Products Journal Surgical Options for Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in the Current Era
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Thiazolo[3,2–b][1,2,4]triazoles in Breast and Cervical Cancer Cells
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Infectious Co-Factors in HIV-1 Transmission Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 and HIV-1: New Insights and Interventions
Current HIV Research Structural Activity Relationship and Importance of Benzothiazole Derivatives in Medicinal Chemistry: A Comprehensive Review
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry Targeting STAT1 in Both Cancer and Insulin Resistance Diseases
Current Protein & Peptide Science The Association of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Anal Canal
Current Drug Therapy Biosystems Engineering of Prokaryotes with Tumor-Killing Capacities
Current Pharmaceutical Design In Vitro Synergistic Interaction between DTA0100 and Radiation in Human Cancer Cell Lines
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Vitamin D Analogs in Cutaneous Malignancies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Novel Multitarget Hybrid Compounds for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Phenanthridine Sulfonamide Derivatives as Potential DPP-IV Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Complications of Paget Bone Disease: A Study of 69 Patients
Current Rheumatology Reviews Getting in Sync: A New Ready-to-use Biofield Resonance Device (Vita Chip) Reduces Chronic Pain and Increases Wellbeing
Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued)