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Clinical and Translational Oncology
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology 4/2017

01-04-2017 | Review Article

Telomeres and telomerase in the clinical management of colorectal cancer

Authors: C. Piñol-Felis, T. Fernández-Marcelo, J. Viñas-Salas, C. Valls-Bautista

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Our aim is to describe the state of the art about the role of telomeres and telomerase in the clinical management of CRC and its potential utility as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and targets of new treatments. Telomere length could be a new diagnostic marker as an anomalous behavior is observed in peripheral blood cells when CRC patients and healthy people are compared. Moreover, telomeres and telomerase may be used as diagnostic markers considering that universal changes appear along the CRC process. Currently, new therapeutic cancer approaches are focused on inhibiting the maintenance of telomere length, choosing as targets telomerase -or its subunits- or the Shelterin complex. The goal of these therapies is the shortening of telomeres and the induction of cell senescence. Telomeres and telomerase emerge as useful molecular tools in the clinical management of CRC.
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Metadata
Title
Telomeres and telomerase in the clinical management of colorectal cancer
Authors
C. Piñol-Felis
T. Fernández-Marcelo
J. Viñas-Salas
C. Valls-Bautista
Publication date
01-04-2017
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-016-1559-0

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