Prostate tumor-initiating cells: A new target for telomerase inhibition therapy?

Calin O. Marian, Jerry W. Shay

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conventional therapies for prostate cancer, especially in its androgen-independent form, may result in the survival of small populations of resistant cells with tumor-initiating potential. These "cancer stem cells" are believed to be responsible for cancer relapse, and therapeutic strategies targeting these cells are of great importance. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme responsible for telomere elongation and is activated in the majority of malignancies, including prostate cancer, but is absent in most normal cells. Putative tumor-initiating cells have significant levels of telomerase, indicating that they are an excellent target for telomerase inhibition therapy. In this review, we present some evidence for the hypothesis that conventional therapies (standard chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) in combination with telomerase inhibitors may result in effective and more durable responses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)289-296
Number of pages8
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
Volume1792
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2009

Keywords

  • GRN163L
  • Prostate
  • Telomerase
  • Telomere
  • Tumor-initiating cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

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