hTERT-based therapy: a universal anticancer approach (Review).

Mu-Han Lü, Zhong-Li Liao, Xiao-Yan Zhao, Ya-Han Fan, Xian-Long Lin, Dian-Chun Fang, Hong Guo, Shi-Ming Yang

Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, PR China.

Oncology reports 2012 Dec

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Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) has been identiﬁed as a major protein involved in aberrant cell proliferation, immortalization, metastasis and stemness maintenance in a majority of tumors, yet it has little or no expression in normal somatic cells. During the past few years, the development of hTERT-based therapies such as immunotherapy, suicide gene therapy and small-molecule interfering therapy have become critical and specific for eradicating all types of cancer. Here, current knowledge regarding hTERT and its involvement in various cancers and its role as a target of cancer therapies are reviewed. Additionally, hurdles to new cancer therapy development and new therapeutic opportunities are described, along with areas that require further investigation.

Citation

Mu-Han Lü, Zhong-Li Liao, Xiao-Yan Zhao, Ya-Han Fan, Xian-Long Lin, Dian-Chun Fang, Hong Guo, Shi-Ming Yang. hTERT-based therapy: a universal anticancer approach (Review). Oncology reports. 2012 Dec;28(6):1945-52