TELOMERASE-INHIBITION AS ANTI-CANCERTHERAPY: CURRENT ADVANCES &FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

Telomeres are the defensive structure at the end of chromosomes that helps in maintaining genomic integrity but are progressively shortened due to successive cell division. This phenomenon leads to senescence or apoptosis that is the safeguarding check point mechanism of a cell against any malfunctioning. However, ribonucleoprotein telomerase maintains them in various cancer cells, leading to tumour proliferation. The identification of components of telomerase holoenzyme and the protein subunits attached to telomeres has been made in the past, where proteins play a significant role in the mechanisms of telomere length regulation. Advanced technologies have identified various new anti-cancer strategies to target telomerase and its allied proteins to prevent cancer cell proliferation. Following our growing knowledge on the subject, this review is aimed to covers in-depth description of the recent advances in telomerase research, structure of telomere and the details of proteins associated with it along with those of telomerase, which are integral in telomere length maintenance. This review also summarizes anti-telomerase cancer therapeutic approaches, i.e., inhibition of telomerase activity, ranging from potential targets to synthetic chemical compounds to natural phytochemicals. Thus, the review highlights the importance of considering telomerase as a potential anti-cancer target.