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Open AccessReview
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity as Potential Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Cancer
by
Christina Loukopoulou
Christina Loukopoulou 1,
Taxiarchis Nikolouzakis
Taxiarchis Nikolouzakis 1,
Ioannis Koliarakis
Ioannis Koliarakis 1,
Elena Vakonaki
Elena Vakonaki 2 and
John Tsiaoussis
John Tsiaoussis 1,*
1
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
2
Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Submission received: 13 August 2024
/
Revised: 28 September 2024
/
Accepted: 29 September 2024
/
Published: 1 October 2024
Simple Summary
Cancer affects millions worldwide, with gastrointestinal cancers being notably common. This review explores the potential of telomeres and telomerase as biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting these cancers. Telomeres are protective caps at chromosome ends that shorten with cell division, while telomerase helps extend them. Changes in these markers could indicate cancer risk and progression. Despite efforts to prevent cancer through lifestyle changes, gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal and gastric cancer remain prevalent. Current detection methods like endoscopy are invasive, driving interest in non-invasive alternatives. By consolidating research on telomere length and telomerase activity, this review aims to highlight how these biomarkers could enhance early diagnosis and monitoring. Understanding these mechanisms better could lead to improved diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, potentially refining how gastrointestinal cancers are managed and improving patient outcomes.
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, such as colorectal and gastric cancers, pose significant global health challenges due to their high rates of incidence and mortality. Even with advancements in treatment and early detection, many patients still face poor outcomes, highlighting the critical need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA) have gained attention in this context. Telomeres, protective nucleotide sequences at chromosome ends, shorten with each cell division, leading to cellular aging. Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme, counteracts this shortening by adding telomeric repeats, a process tightly regulated in normal cells but often dysregulated in cancer. This review critically evaluates the role of TL and TA in the pathogenesis of GI cancers, examining their potential as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers. It explores how alterations in telomere biology contribute to the initiation and progression of GI tumors and assesses the therapeutic implications of targeting telomerase. By integrating findings from diverse studies, this review aims to elucidate the intricate relationship between telomere dynamics and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis, offering insights into how TL and TA could be leveraged to enhance the early detection, treatment, and prognosis of GI cancers.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Loukopoulou, C.; Nikolouzakis, T.; Koliarakis, I.; Vakonaki, E.; Tsiaoussis, J.
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity as Potential Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Cancer. Cancers 2024, 16, 3370.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16193370
AMA Style
Loukopoulou C, Nikolouzakis T, Koliarakis I, Vakonaki E, Tsiaoussis J.
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity as Potential Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Cancer. Cancers. 2024; 16(19):3370.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16193370
Chicago/Turabian Style
Loukopoulou, Christina, Taxiarchis Nikolouzakis, Ioannis Koliarakis, Elena Vakonaki, and John Tsiaoussis.
2024. "Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity as Potential Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Cancer" Cancers 16, no. 19: 3370.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16193370
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