Telomeric impact of conventional chemotherapy

Front Med. 2013 Dec;7(4):411-7. doi: 10.1007/s11684-013-0293-z. Epub 2013 Oct 23.

Abstract

The increased level of chromosome instability in cancer cells, leading to aneuploidy and gross chromosomal rearrangements, is not only a driving force for oncogenesis but also can be the Achille's heel of the disease since many chemotherapies (CT) kill cells by inducing a non-tolerable rate of DNA damage. A wealth of published evidence showed that telomere stability can be more affected than the bulk of the genome by several conventional antineoplasic drugs. These results raise the interesting possibility that CT with genotoxic drugs preferentially target telomeres. In agreement with this view, accelerated shortening of telomere length has been described in blood lineage cells following high-dose CT (stem cell transplantation) or non-myeloablative CT. However, almost nothing is known on the consequences of this shortening in terms of telomere stability, senescence and on the development of second cancers or post-treatment aging-like syndromes in cancer survivors (cognitive defect, fertility impairment, etc.). In this article, we propose: (1) telomeres of cancer cells are preferential genomic targets of chemotherapies altering chromosome maintenance; (2) telomere functional parameters can be a surrogate marker of chemotherapy sensitivity and toxicity; (3) the use of anti-telomere molecule could greatly enhance the sensitivity to standards chemotherapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / drug effects
  • Aging / genetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Telomere / drug effects*
  • Telomere Homeostasis / drug effects*
  • Telomere Shortening / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents