The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target?
Glioblastoma <i>IDH</i>-wildtype represents the most lethal and frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. Thanks to important scientific efforts, we can now investigate its deep genomic assessment, elucidating mutated genes and altered biological mechanisms in addition to its...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/1/44 |
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| author | Vincenzo Di Nunno Marta Aprile Stefania Bartolini Lidia Gatto Alicia Tosoni Lucia Ranieri Dario De Biase Sofia Asioli Enrico Franceschi |
| author_facet | Vincenzo Di Nunno Marta Aprile Stefania Bartolini Lidia Gatto Alicia Tosoni Lucia Ranieri Dario De Biase Sofia Asioli Enrico Franceschi |
| author_sort | Vincenzo Di Nunno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glioblastoma <i>IDH</i>-wildtype represents the most lethal and frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. Thanks to important scientific efforts, we can now investigate its deep genomic assessment, elucidating mutated genes and altered biological mechanisms in addition to its clinical aggressiveness. The telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (<i>TERT</i>) is the most frequently altered gene in solid tumors, including brain tumors and GBM <i>IDH</i>-wildtype. In particular, it can be observed in approximately 80–90% of GBM <i>IDH</i>-wildtype cases. Its clonal distribution on almost all cancer cells makes this gene an optimal target. However, the research of effective TERT inhibitors is complicated by several biological and clinical obstacles which can be only partially surmounted. Very recently, novel immunological approaches leading to <i>TERT</i> inhibition have been investigated, offering the potential to develop an effective target for this altered protein. Here, we perform a narrative review investigating the biological role of TERT alterations on glioblastoma and the principal obstacles associated with TERT inhibitions in this population. Moreover, we discuss possible combination treatment strategies to overcome these limitations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:10:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11d96177af084ada87cd4aeb97f045f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:10:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-11d96177af084ada87cd4aeb97f045f32024-01-10T14:53:18ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092023-12-011314410.3390/cells13010044The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target?Vincenzo Di Nunno0Marta Aprile1Stefania Bartolini2Lidia Gatto3Alicia Tosoni4Lucia Ranieri5Dario De Biase6Sofia Asioli7Enrico Franceschi8Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyNervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Oncology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalyNervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalyNervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalySolid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyIRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalyNervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, ItalyGlioblastoma <i>IDH</i>-wildtype represents the most lethal and frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. Thanks to important scientific efforts, we can now investigate its deep genomic assessment, elucidating mutated genes and altered biological mechanisms in addition to its clinical aggressiveness. The telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (<i>TERT</i>) is the most frequently altered gene in solid tumors, including brain tumors and GBM <i>IDH</i>-wildtype. In particular, it can be observed in approximately 80–90% of GBM <i>IDH</i>-wildtype cases. Its clonal distribution on almost all cancer cells makes this gene an optimal target. However, the research of effective TERT inhibitors is complicated by several biological and clinical obstacles which can be only partially surmounted. Very recently, novel immunological approaches leading to <i>TERT</i> inhibition have been investigated, offering the potential to develop an effective target for this altered protein. Here, we perform a narrative review investigating the biological role of TERT alterations on glioblastoma and the principal obstacles associated with TERT inhibitions in this population. Moreover, we discuss possible combination treatment strategies to overcome these limitations.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/1/44TERTTERT inhibitorgliomaglioblastoma |
| spellingShingle | Vincenzo Di Nunno Marta Aprile Stefania Bartolini Lidia Gatto Alicia Tosoni Lucia Ranieri Dario De Biase Sofia Asioli Enrico Franceschi The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? Cells TERT TERT inhibitor glioma glioblastoma |
| title | The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? |
| title_full | The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? |
| title_fullStr | The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? |
| title_short | The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? |
| title_sort | biological and clinical role of the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene in glioblastoma a potential therapeutic target |
| topic | TERT TERT inhibitor glioma glioblastoma |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/1/44 |
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