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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Genetics
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1542930

The Role of Telomere and Telomerase in Cancer and Novel Therapeutic Target: Narrative review

Provisionally accepted
Temesgen Baylie Temesgen Baylie 1*Mohammed Jemal Mohammed Jemal 1Gelagey Baye Gelagey Baye 1mamaru getinet engda mamaru getinet engda 1Gashaw Azanaw Amare Gashaw Azanaw Amare 2Adane Adugna Adane Adugna 2Desalegn Abebaw Desalegn Abebaw 2Zigale Teffera Zigale Teffera 2Bantayehu Addis Tegegne Bantayehu Addis Tegegne 3Endalkachew Gugsa Endalkachew Gugsa 4Tadegew Adane Tadegew Adane 1Gedefaw Getie Gedefaw Getie 1Deresse Sinamaw Deresse Sinamaw 1
  • 1 Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
  • 2 Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia
  • 3 Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia
  • 4 Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Telomeres are dynamic complexes at the ends of chromosomes that are made up of protective proteins and tandem repeating DNA sequences. In the large majority of cancer cells, telomere length is maintained by telomerase, an enzyme that elongates telomeres. Telomerase activation is seen in the majority of cancer, which permits uncontrol cell proliferation. About 90% of human malignancies show telomere dysfunction and telomerase reactivation; as a result, telomerase activation plays a special role as a practically universal stage on the way to malignancy. This review understands the structural and functional of telomere and telomerase, mechanisms of telomerase activation in oncogenesis, biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Therapeutic strategies targeting telomerase, including antisense oligonucleotides, G-quadruplex stabilizers, immunotherapy, small-molecule inhibitors, gene therapy, Telomerase-Responsive Drug Release System, have shown promise in preclinical and clinical settings. Advances in telomere biology not only illuminate the complex interplay between telomeres, telomerase, and cancer progression but also open avenues for innovative, targeted cancer therapies.

    Keywords: Telomere, Telomere Shortening, Telomerase, Cancer, Novel therapeutic target

    Received: 10 Dec 2024; Accepted: 27 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Baylie, Jemal, Baye, engda, Amare, Adugna, Abebaw, Teffera, Tegegne, Gugsa, Adane, Getie and Sinamaw. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Temesgen Baylie, Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.