Anti-telomerase therapy suppressed glioma proliferation

In order to determine if telomerase activity contributes to the growth of g lioma cells, we constructed an anti-telomerase vector to suppress telomeras e expression in glioma cells. The human telomerase (hTR)-antisense vector s howed a significant suppression effect. However it did not appear to induce cell death as a stable population of cells survived more than two months f ollowing transfection. These results provide evidence that reagents aimed a t inhibiting telomerase may represent a useful strategy for suppressing the growth of glioma cells. In addition to telomerase, another mechanism would also maintain telomere length, thus supporting continuous cell proliferati on.