Telomeres, Telomerase, and Immortality
- 21 June 1995
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
- Vol. 87 (12) , 884-894
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/87.12.884
Abstract
A current hypothesis gaining prominence proposes that activation of the enzyme telomerase is necessary for cells to become immortal, or capable of proliferating indefinitely. The theory suggests that almost all cancer cells must attain immortality for progression to malignant states and, hence, require activation of telomerase. This article reviews the function and formation of telomeres as background to evaluating the “telomere hypothesis.” Experiments in support of and experiments that challenge the hypothesis are examined. Possible approaches to telomerase inhibition are discussed. [J Natl Cancer Inst 87: 884–894, 1995]Keywords
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