A New Target for Treating the Aggressive Brain Tumor Gliobastoma: Telomere Proteins!

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a brain cancer that is very difficult to treat. The inability of medicines to cross the blood-brain barrier effectively and the diverse genetic and biological mechanisms of brain tumors worsen the disease course. In November 2017, Cançer Cell published a study reporting the discovery of an effective method to inhibit glioblastoma cell growth.

The main molecular targets in the study were telomere-associated proteins. As is known, telomerase activity is very high in cancer cells. This allows them to maintain their telomeres at a certain level, giving them unlimited proliferative capacity. Researchers investigated whether blocking telomere proteins would be effective in glioblastoma, which has different biology.

• What is the Telomerase Enzyme, the elixir of immortality for cancer cells? Why is it important in cancer?

Glioblastomaarises from star-shaped nervous system cells called astrocytes. These tumors usually contain glioblastoma stem cells, which enable continuous tumor proliferation. High TRF1 protein activity has been found in glioblastoma stem cells. TRF1 helps telomeres perform their functions and also plays an important role in the self-renewal of glioblastoma stem cells.

Based on all this information, researchers investigated whether inhibiting TRF1 protein activity affected the growth of glioblastoma tumors.

According to the Study Findings;

• In laboratory animal models, inhibiting TRF1 activity reduced tumor growth and increased survival by up to 80 percent.
• No treatment-related side effects were observed in animal models.

What Does This Study Mean for Us?

• Telomerase activity is very high in cancer stem cells. Treatments targeting the telomerase enzyme or telomere mechanisms may therefore effectively eliminate cancer stem cells.
• An effective treatment strategy against difficult-to-treat tumors such as glioblastoma has thus been discovered.
• It is important to emphasize that this work is still being tested in the laboratory. Further studies are required to demonstrate its validity and effectiveness.

It should also be noted that various products have been sold in recent years promising longevity and claiming to lengthen telomeres by increasing telomerase activity. These are marketed as supplements, not medicines. Telomerase is most active in cancer cells. Cancer cells have developed mechanisms preventing their telomeres from shortening. We must therefore state that taking supplements to lengthen our telomeres is, in our view, highly risky in terms of cancer. The most natural and appropriate way to protect telomeres is through healthy lifestyle habits, proper nutrition and regular exercise.

• Mediterranean-style eating promises healthier aging and lower cancer risk by preserving telomere length