Bollmann F Mathias
Asklepios Klinik Altona, Department of Hematology and Internal Oncology, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 1, 22763 Hamburg, Germany.
Cancer Treat Rev. 2007 Dec;33(8):704-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2007.08.006. Epub 2007 Oct 22.
Telomere shortening in the course of cell divisions plays an important role in both suppression and pathogenesis of cancer. Telomere maintenance mechanisms such as telomerase and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) are essential for long-term tumor growth. Consequently, interdiction of telomere lengthening has been proposed as an anti-cancer treatment but requires insight in the genes and pathways involved. In this article, the molecular and functional details of ALT are reviewed, and proposed next steps towards a therapy aimed at preventing ALT in human cancers are described.
细胞分裂过程中的端粒缩短在癌症的抑制和发病机制中都起着重要作用。端粒维持机制，如端粒酶和端粒的替代延长（ALT），对于肿瘤的长期生长至关重要。因此，抑制端粒延长已被提议作为一种抗癌治疗方法，但这需要深入了解其中涉及的基因和途径。在本文中，我们综述了ALT的分子和功能细节，并描述了针对预防人类癌症中ALT的治疗方法的下一步建议。
