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Di Nunno V, Aprile M, Bartolini S, Gatto L, Tosoni A, Ranieri L, De Biase D, Asioli S, Franceschi E. The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? Cells 2023; 13:44. [PMID: 38201248 PMCID: PMC10778438 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma IDH-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 (TERT) is the most frequently altered gene in solid tumors, including brain tumors and GBM IDH-wildtype. In particular, it can be observed in approximately 80-90% of GBM IDH-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 TERT 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Nunno
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Marta Aprile
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Bartolini
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Lidia Gatto
- Department of Oncology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alicia Tosoni
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Lucia Ranieri
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Dario De Biase
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sofia Asioli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Surgical Pathology Section, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Franceschi
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
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