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Balancing instability: dual roles for telomerase and telomere dysfunction in tumorigenesis

Oncogene volume 21, pages 619–626 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Telomere shortening and telomerase activation both occur in human tumors. Telomere shortening has been proposed to have two conflicting roles in tumorigenesis: tumor suppression and initiation of chromosomal instability. Similarly, while telomerase activation is suggested to be necessary for tumor growth, telomerase may help to stabilize genomic instability. Here we review what is known about these conflicting roles and propose a framework to understand the role of telomerase in cancer progression.

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Acknowledgements

We thank David Feldser, Mike Hemann, Doug Mason, Ling Qi, and Margaret Strong for critical reading of the manuscript. JA Hackett was supported by the Predoctoral Training Program in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. This work was supported by NIH grant GM43080 to CW Greider.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Predoctoral Training Program in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, MD, USA

    Jennifer A Hackett

  2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, MD, USA

    Carol W Greider

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  1. Jennifer A Hackett
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  2. Carol W Greider
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Correspondence to Carol W Greider.

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Hackett, J., Greider, C. Balancing instability: dual roles for telomerase and telomere dysfunction in tumorigenesis. Oncogene 21, 619–626 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1205061

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1205061

Keywords

  • telomeres
  • telomerase
  • chromosomal instability

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