Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer (Cancer Drug Discovery and Development)

Telomeres and telomerase are the pivotal players that destine cellular senescence and immortalization. Telomere shortening due to "End-replication problem" in each cell cycle is a universal phenomenon for all eukaryotic cells with linear chromosomes. Its compensation by telomerase is also common from yeast to human. However, the length of telomeres, distribution of telomerase positive cells, and consequence of telomerase inhibition are different among species. "Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancers", edited by Keiko Hiyama, focuses on "Human" telomeres and telomerase, from basic biology and hypothesis in human normal cells and cancer cells to clinical application as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets in anti-cancer strategy. Cutting-edge experimental protocols for their evaluation are also included. This coverage will enable medical oncologists and students as well as basic researchers to capture the up-to-date entire picture of human telomeres and telomerase in cancer. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Telomeres and Telomerase in Humans....Pages 3-21 Telomere-Binding Proteins in Humans....Pages 23-46 Regulation of Telomerase Through Transcriptional and Posttranslational Mechanisms....Pages 47-85 Telomere Dysfunction and the DNA Damage Response....Pages 87-125 Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Human Cells....Pages 127-148 Mouse Model: Telomeres and Telomerase in Stem Cell and Cancer....Pages 149-167 Role of Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer....Pages 171-180 Diagnostic Value I: Solid Tumors....Pages 181-210 Diagnostic Value II: Hematopoietic Malignancies....Pages 211-224 Therapeutic Targets and Drugs I: Telomerase and Telomerase Inhibitors....Pages 225-249 Therapeutic Targets and Drugs II: G-Quadruplex and G-Quadruplex Inhibitors....Pages 251-280 Therapeutic Targets and Drugs III: Tankyrase 1, Telomere-Binding Proteins, and Inhibitors....Pages 281-291 Therapeutic Targets and Drugs IV: Telomerase-Specific Gene and Vector-Based Therapies for Human Cancer....Pages 293-312 Protocol I: Telomerase Activity and Telomerase Expression....Pages 315-335 Protocol II: Importance and Methods of Telomere G-Tail Length Quantification....Pages 337-350 Protocol III: Detection of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres....Pages 351-364 Back Matter....Pages 365-373 Telomeres and telomerase are the two pivotal players that determine the course of cellular sensecence and immortalization. A universal problem for all eukaryotic cells with linear chromosomes is telomere shortening due to "end-replication problems;" its compensation by telomerase is also common from yeast to human. However, the length of telomeres, distribution of telomerase-positive cells, and consequence of telomerase inhibition differ among species. Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancers, edited by Keiko Hiyama, focuses on human telomeres and telomerase, from their basic biology in normal human cells and cancer cells, to their clinical applications as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets in anti-cancer strategies. Cutting-edge experimental protocols for their evaluation are also included. This coverage will enable medical oncologists and students as well as basic researchers to capture the up-to-date research into the role of human telomeres and telomerase in cancer Telomerase, an enzyme that maintains telomeres and endows eukaryotic cells with immortality, was first discovered in tetrahymena in 1985. In 1990s, it was proven that this enzyme also plays a key role in the infinite proliferation of human cancer cells. Now telomere and telomerase are widely accepted as important factors involved in cancer biology, and as promising diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. Recently, role of telomerase in “cancer stem cells” has become another attractive story. Until now, there are several good books on telomere and telomerase focusing on biology in ciliates, yeasts, and mouse or basic sciences in human, providing basic scientists or students with updated knowledge. Keiko Hiyama, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.