Understanding, Diagnosing, and Treating Pancreatic Cancer From the Perspective of Telomeres and Telomerase

Authors

Songting Shou
Yuanliang Li
Jiaqin Chen
Xing Zhang
Chuanlong Zhang
Xiaochen Jiang
Fudong Liu
Li Yi
Xiyuan Zhang
En Geer
Zhenqing Pu
Bo Pang

Publication Date

9-1-2024

Journal

Cancer Gene Therapy

Abstract

Telomerase is associated with cellular aging, and its presence limits cellular lifespan. Telomerase by preventing telomere shortening can extend the number of cell divisions for cancer cells. In adult pancreatic cells, telomeres gradually shorten, while in precancerous lesions of cancer, telomeres in cells are usually significantly shortened. At this time, telomerase is still in an inactive state, and it is not until before and after the onset of cancer that telomerase is reactivated, causing cancer cells to proliferate. Methylation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter and regulation of telomerase by lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is the mechanism of telomerase reactivation in pancreatic cancer. Understanding the role of telomeres and telomerase in pancreatic cancer will help to diagnose and initiate targeted therapy as early as possible. This article reviews the role of telomeres and telomerase as biomarkers in the development of pancreatic cancer and the progress of research on telomeres and telomerase as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Keywords

Humans, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Telomerase, Telomere, Biomarkers, Tumor, Animals, Cancer

Comments

PMID: 38594465