Advancing telomerase inhibitors as potential cancer therapeutic
Background
Chemotherapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, and a region that is particularly sensitive to DNA damage is the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres. Normally, telomeres shorten over time which is a natural process of healthy ageing that limits the number of times a cell can divide. However, ~90% of all human cancers have activated a specific enzyme, called telomerase, to prevent the telomeres from shortening which allows the cancer cells to divide without limit.
Drugs that target telomerases, known as small-molecule telomerase inhibitors, have been a promising therapeutic approach to cancer for almost three decades, yet no such compounds have reached the clinic and patients.
About the project
Dr Cohen and his team have identified two small-molecule drugs that inhibit the action of telomerase, and this project aims to advance the efficacy and safety of these drugs. The researchers hypothesise that the telomerase inhibitors will work together with chemotherapy to improve the overall treatment, meaning lower and safer doses of each drug can be used, compared to either treatment alone.
Impact
As active telomerase is present in around 90% of cancers, telomerase inhibitors have the potential to be used in most cancers and could have a transformative impact on cancer treatment. As telomerase action is interconnected with DNA repair mechanisms, these drugs could have a two-fold effect and prevent damaged cancer cells from being able to repair themselves. By combining these novel drugs with standard chemotherapy, this research could improve the efficacy and safety of therapies already used in clinic.