The Different Aspects of Telomerase Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment
摘要
Telomeres are the sticky ends of chromosomes that, after time and with age increasing, get shorter, and this shortening is directly related to aging and disease. Telomeres, which shield the ends of chromosomes in mammals, are nucleoprotein complexes. Telomere length varies between species. Telomerase is a reverse ribonucleic transcriptase enzyme that elongates telomeres by postponing their shortening. In some diseases like cancer, telomerase gets overexpressed, and a mass of immortal cells will be made. These cells, with unlimited replication, will migrate to other parts of the body and metastasize. In the later steps, angiogenesis occurs, and the cancer cells supply the needed blood. Angiogenesis is one of the most common causes of cancer, and if it can be controlled, it can help with cancer care. Some chemical signals control the process of angiogenesis, and many strategies have been suggested to defeat these signals. Since telomerase is overexpressed in 85–95% of cancerous tumors, telomerase inhibitors may be used to combat cancer. These inhibitors can be natural, synthetic, or modified oligonucleotides. Some telomerase inhibitors can simultaneously target telomerase and the Wnt signaling pathway, essential in angiogenesis.