Telomerase inhibitors

Telomerase is attracting great interest as a target for anticancer research because telomerase activity is present in most malignant cells, but undete ctable in most normal somatic cells. The antisense approach has been widely exploited and directed to telomerase RNA, chiefly the template region. Rib ozymes have been less investigated. Agents that stabilize folded G-quadrupl ex structures also inhibit telomerase. Inhibitory agents from many chemical classes have been identified many through screening, but their specificity of action is in doubt. A specific inhibitor is expected to immediately inh ibit activity but not cell division, produce telomerase shortening over mul tiple generations, and ultimately produce end-to-end chromosomal fusion and growth arrest.