Bertorelle R, Rampazzo E, Pucciarelli S, Nitti D, Rossi AD. Telomeres, telomerase and colorectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20(8): 1940-1950 [PMID: 24616570 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1940]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Anita De Rossi, PhD, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Section of Oncology and Immunology, University of Padova, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy. anita.derossi@unipd.it
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Topic Highlight
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2014; 20(8): 1940-1950 Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1940
Telomeres, telomerase and colorectal cancer
Roberta Bertorelle, Enrica Rampazzo, Salvatore Pucciarelli, Donato Nitti, Anita De Rossi
Roberta Bertorelle, Enrica Rampazzo, Anita De Rossi, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Section of Oncology and Immunology, University of Padova, IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
Salvatore Pucciarelli, Donato Nitti, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Section of Surgery, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Author contributions: De Rossi A designed the study; all the authors reviewed the literature and analysed the data; De Rossi A and Bertorelle R wrote the article; all authors reviewed and approved the final version of the article.
Supported by A grant from Cariparo, Project “Tumour microenvironment and tumour spread in gastrointestinal cancers”, 2013/2014, No. 6421 to Rampazzo E
Correspondence to: Anita De Rossi, PhD, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Section of Oncology and Immunology, University of Padova, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy. anita.derossi@unipd.it
Telephone: + 39-49-8215894 Fax: +39-49-8215894
Received: September 24, 2013 Revised: December 3, 2013 Accepted: January 14, 2014 Published online: February 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Telomere/telomerase interplay is an important mechanism involved in both genomic stability and cellular replicative potential. Telomere shortening is an early event that contributes to genetic instability, which plays a key role in the early steps of carcinogenesis. The activation of telomerase, which preserves replicative potential by maintaining the length of telomeres, occurs during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and increases during tumour progression. While the prognostic value of telomere length is controversial, most studies agree that the level of telomerase in tumours represents a useful prognostic marker. Circulating telomerase reverse transcriptase is a promising marker for the minimally invasive monitoring of disease and response to therapy.
