Ohyashiki K, Ohyashiki J H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College, Japan.
Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 1997 Mar;94(1):67-72. doi: 10.1016/s0165-4608(96)00277-4.
Chromosome termini, termed telomeres, provide important protection to avoid loss of master gene(s) that may exist at subtelomeric regions. Moreover, erosion of telomeres by cell division through end-replication problems resulted in telomeric-associated cytogenetic aberrations. To maintain a telomere length related to cell immortality, telomerase activity is upregulated in cancer cells, therefore, telomerase is considered to be a new marker of neoplasias. In this paper, we review and make suggestions regarding key aspects of telomere dynamics in both normal hematopoiesis and in malignant hematologic diseases.
