Telomerase: Diagnostics, cancer therapeutics and tissue engineering

Michel M. Ouellette, Kwangmoon Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The enzyme telomerase has a key role in controlling the lifespan of human cells. It is absent from most somatic tissues but is reactivated in more than 85% of cancers, making the enzyme ideal as a marker of cancer cells and as a therapeutic target. In the context of normal human cells, the enzyme can extend cellular lifespan without causing cancer-associated changes or altering phenotypic properties. This capability could solve a major obstacle in the use of normal human cells for tissue engineering, that is, the induction of cellular senescence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1231-1237
Number of pages7
JournalDrug Discovery Today
Volume6
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery

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