Cancer researchers at Children’s Medical Research Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding how cells utilize telomeres to prevent cancer. Telomeres, the protective caps found at the ends of chromosomes, play a crucial role in both aging and cancer development. As individuals age, the length of telomeres naturally decreases, signaling aging cells to cease dividing. This process serves as a vital defense mechanism against cancer.
Professor Tony Cesare and his Genome Integrity Unit at CMRI are leading experts in telomere research. In a recent publication in Nature Communications, Prof. Cesare and his team, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Kyoto, uncovered a previously unknown “active” function of telomeres in cancer prevention.
Contrary to popular belief that telomeres passively shorten with each cell division, the research conducted by Prof. Cesare’s team revealed that telomeres can actively respond to cellular stress by opening up to trigger a protective response that mimics aging. This response leads to cell cycle arrest or cell death, preventing damaged cells with chromosomal abnormalities from further division. This newfound function of telomeres suggests an additional anti-cancer mechanism that was previously unrecognized.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. Not only does it significantly advance our understanding of telomere biology, but it also opens up new possibilities for cancer treatment strategies. By targeting telomeres to induce cell death in cancerous cells, researchers may be able to develop more effective and targeted therapies for combating cancer.
For more information on this groundbreaking research, you can access the publication in Nature Communications by Diana Romero-Zamora et al. through the following DOI link: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57456-8.
This research was conducted at Children’s Medical Research Institute and represents a significant contribution to the field of cancer biology. The potential applications of this discovery in cancer treatment highlight the importance of continued research in understanding the intricate mechanisms that cells employ to prevent cancer.
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This article was originally published on MedicalXpress on March 17, 2025, and can be accessed at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-unexpected-discovery-cells-telomeres-cancer.html.
