Meyerson M
Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
J Clin Oncol. 2000 Jul;18(13):2626-34. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.13.2626.
Shortening of the telomeric DNA at chromosome ends is postulated to limit the lifespan of human cells. In contrast, activation of telomerase, the enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA, is proposed to be an essential step in cancer cell immortalization and cancer progression. This review discusses the structure and function of telomeres and telomerase, the role of telomerase in cell immortalization, and the effects of telomerase inactivation on normal and cancer cells. Moreover, data on the experimental use of telomerase assays for cancer detection and diagnosis are reviewed. Finally, the review considers the evidence regarding whether telomerase inhibitors could be used to treat human cancers.
染色体末端端粒DNA的缩短被认为会限制人类细胞的寿命。相反，端粒酶（一种合成端粒DNA的酶）的激活被认为是癌细胞永生化和癌症进展的关键步骤。本文综述了端粒和端粒酶的结构与功能、端粒酶在细胞永生化中的作用，以及端粒酶失活对正常细胞和癌细胞的影响。此外，还综述了端粒酶检测在癌症检测和诊断中的实验应用数据。最后，本文探讨了关于端粒酶抑制剂是否可用于治疗人类癌症的证据。
