Drug Insight: cancer cell immortality - telomerase as a target for novel cancer gene therapies

Keith, W. , Bilsland, A. , Hardie, M. and Evans, T. (2004) Drug Insight: cancer cell immortality - telomerase as a target for novel cancer gene therapies. Nature Clinical Practice Oncology, 1(2), pp. 88-96. (doi: 10.1038/ncponc0044)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Rapid advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer development and progression over the past three decades have led to the design of new potential cancer therapies. High throughput target validation and expression studies are expected to yield a powerful arsenal of new cancer treatments, but untangling the complex pathways underlying the major cancer phenotypes remains a significant challenge. A considerable body of evidence in recent years implicates deregulated expression of a single multi-component enzyme, telomerase, as a causative factor at the heart of immortalization in the vast majority of human tumors. This review highlights the potential of telomerase as a target for novel cancer therapies. The potential of exploiting the selectivity of the telomerase family of genes within cancer cells to develop gene therapy strategies is discussed, and the progress towards translating these novel therapeutics from the laboratory to the clinic is reviewed.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bilsland, Dr Alan and Evans, Professor Jeff and Keith, Professor Nicol
Authors: Keith, W., Bilsland, A., Hardie, M., and Evans, T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Nature Clinical Practice Oncology
ISSN:1743-4254

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record