Telomerase therapeutics for cancer: Challenges and new directions

Jerry W. Shay, Woodring E. Wright

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

385 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been approximately a decade since telomerase was described as an almost universal marker for human cancer. Most human tumours not only express telomerase but also have very short telomeres, whereas telomerase activity is either reduced or absent in normal tissues, making the inhibition of telomerase an attractive target for cancer therapeutics. Here we review the current status of telomerase therapeutics and discuss future opportunities and challenges for telomerase research, including a possible relationship with cancer stem cells that could be a source of chemo-/radioresistance development in many advanced cancers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)577-584
Number of pages8
JournalNature Reviews Drug Discovery
Volume5
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery

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