Telomerase in endocrine and endocrine-dependent tumors

Telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein enzyme that elongates chromosomal ends, o r telomeres, is repressed in most normal somatic cells but reactivated in t ransformed cells to compensate for the progressive erosion of the telomeres during cell divisions. In accordance with this hypothesis, the presence of telomerase activity has been reported in more than 90% of human cancers, w hereas most normal tissues or benign tumors contain low or undetectable tel omerase activity. Reactivation of telomerase has also been widely reported in endocrine neoplasms and in hormone-related cancers. In the present study , we review the most recent publications on telomerase in these types of tu mors. The hormonal regulation of telomerase activity and the possible strat egies for cancer therapy based on the inhibition of telomerase has also bee n discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.