Telomerase: Much Understood, Much More Remains Ripe for Discovery

Telomerase, the reverse transcriptase responsible for extending the ends of linear chromosomes, has been studied in depth for the past few decades.  Its importance in processes from cellular lifespan to cancer has been well documented.  More recently, it has been exploited as a potential therapeutic target for cancer.   With the development of telomerase inhibitors deemed safe for human use, inhibition of telomerase has become a promising adjuvant therapy capable of improving the therapeutic outcomes of other drugs.  It is within these studies that we now turn to find a new world of previously under-explored territory for telomerase.  Telomerase inhibition has opened the door to new discoveries into how this enzyme functions and what additional effects it might be having in cellular activity and gene regulation.  These new avenues of exploration have the potential to advance our understanding of molecular biology, cellular activity, and even cancer development and progression.  This review will briefly highlight telomerase inhibitors in cancer therapeutics and the role they might be able to play in defining additional non-telomeric activities of telomerase.