Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, such as colorectal and gastric cancers, pose significant global health challenges due to their high rates of incidence and mortality. Even with advancements in treatment and early detection, many patients still face poor outcomes, highlighting the critical need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA) have gained attention in this context. Telomeres, protective nucleotide sequences at chromosome ends, shorten with each cell division, leading to cellular aging. Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme, counteracts this shortening by adding telomeric repeats, a process tightly regulated in normal cells but often dysregulated in cancer. This review critically evaluates the role of TL and TA in the pathogenesis of GI cancers, examining their potential as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers. It explores how alterations in telomere biology contribute to the initiation and progression of GI tumors and assesses the therapeutic implications of targeting telomerase. By integrating findings from diverse studies, this review aims to elucidate the intricate relationship between telomere dynamics and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis, offering insights into how TL and TA could be leveraged to enhance the early detection, treatment, and prognosis of GI cancers.
胃肠道癌症，如结直肠癌和胃癌，因其高发病率和高死亡率而构成全球重大健康挑战。尽管治疗和早期检测手段有所进步，许多患者仍面临不良预后，这凸显了对新型生物标志物和治疗靶点的迫切需求。在此背景下，端粒长度和端粒酶活性日益受到关注。端粒是染色体末端的保护性核苷酸序列，会随细胞分裂而缩短，导致细胞衰老。端粒酶作为一种核糖核蛋白酶，通过添加端粒重复序列来抵消这种缩短，这一过程在正常细胞中受到严格调控，但在癌症中常出现失调。本综述批判性地评估了端粒长度和端粒酶活性在胃肠道癌症发病机制中的作用，探讨了其作为诊断、预后和预测性生物标志物的潜力。文章深入分析了端粒生物学改变如何促进胃肠道肿瘤的发生与发展，并评估了靶向端粒酶的治疗意义。通过整合多项研究结果，本综述旨在阐明端粒动态变化与胃肠道癌变之间复杂的相互作用关系，为如何利用端粒长度和端粒酶活性来改善胃肠道癌症的早期检测、治疗及预后提供新的见解。
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity as Potential Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Cancer
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家