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Someone was bound to get the idea to use RNA interference therapeutically sooner or later, and it just so happens that scientists at the University of Rochester have targeted telomerase as an RNAi candidate. The RNAi technique used by these researchers reduced, but did not completely inhibit, the activity of telomerase in in vitro cancer cells. If RNAi is analogously effective at disabling the activity of telomerase in vivo then this could significantly stop the growth of cancerous cells. Lead researcher commented "If we can develop a therapy that prevents cancer cells from making telomerase, we may have a therapy that is effective against most cancers." Funny he should say that, because that's exactly what Geron is doing, but not with RNAi. One of their mission-statement webpages reads that they are developing "anti-cancer therapies based on telomerase inhibitors, oncolytic viruses and telomerase vaccines." Telomerase is becoming a big target in the R&D world, and hopefully the research will pay off soon with effective cancer therapies.
Recent Related References:
- Novel modulators of senescence, aging, and longevity: Small non-coding RNAs enter the stage. Grillari J, Grillari-Voglauer R. Exp Gerontol. 2010 Jan 18. PMID: 20080172
- Loss of the VHR dual-specific phosphatase causes cell-cycle arrest and senescence. Rahmouni S, Cerignoli F, Alonso A et al. Nat Cell Biol. 2006 May. PMID: 16604064
- PTOP interacts with POT1 and regulates its localization to telomeres. Liu D, Safari A, O'Connor MS et al. Nat Cell Biol. 2004 Jul. PMID: 15181449
by Chris Smelick at biologicalgerontology.com
copyright 2003-2009
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