1. ¹Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9030, USA
2. ²Centre for Oncology and Applied Pharmacology, University of Glasgow, Cancer Research UK Beatson Laboratories, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK

Correspondence: Professor JW Shay, E-mail: Jerry.Shay@UTSouthwestern.edu

Received 18 October 2007; Revised 2 January 2008; Accepted 3 January 2008; Published online 29 January 2008.

Abstract

One of the hallmarks of advanced malignancies is continuous cell growth and this almost universally correlates with the reactivation of telomerase. Although there is still much we do not understand about the regulation of telomerase, it remains a very attractive and novel target for cancer therapeutics. Several clinical trials have been initiated, and in this review we highlight some of the most promising approaches and conclude by speculating on the role of telomerase in cancer stem cells.