What type of study is this?

This is a Literature Review study.

October 16, 2025Open Access

The Role of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres Mechanism in Cancer Cells and the Research Progress of Controllable Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres

Key Points

Cancer cells can proliferate indefinitely by maintaining telomere length through telomerase and ALT mechanisms.
Current clinical trials are exploring telomerase inhibitors like Imetelstat, targeting established pathways in cancer treatment.
Research has made strides in understanding the ALT mechanism, including key targets like topoisomerase III.
Challenges remain in delivering targeted drugs effectively and managing toxicity for clinical applications.

Abstract

The key to the unlimited proliferation of cancer cells lies in their ability to maintain telomere length, thereby evading the normal mechanisms of cellular senescence and death. Cancer cells mainly sustain or lengthen telomeres through telomerase activation and telomere elongation replacement mechanisms. The former is targeted at clinical trials of telomerase inhibitors (Imetelstat), which are currently ongoing. However, there are still many unsolved mysteries regarding the specific molecular mechanism of the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT)pathway, which limits the development of anti-cancer drugs targeting this pathway. By reviewing relevant literature, this review will discuss the progress and new discoveries of this mechanism in recent years. The research conclusion indicates that although progress has been made in inhibiting key targets of the telomeric substitution elongation pathway (such as topoisomerase III) and developing molecular tools, and a quality control mechanism has been discovered for ALT cancer cells, the specific delivery and toxicity management of targeted drugs remain challenges in clinical translation.

KI fragen

Bookmark

View Full Paper