Targeting of telomerase in cancer gene therapy

Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides for the identification and cloning of the RNA component of the telomerase enzyme, human telomerase RNA (telRNA). In another aspect of invention, there is disclosed a novel tumor cell-specific gene therapy, using the telRNA of the invention for the specific destruction of various types of cancers. The human telomerase RNA (telRNA) gene can be identified (isolated) by direct hybridization using an oligonucleotide probe to screen cultured human tumor cells enriched in telRNA (HeLa cells) and/or by PCR/hybrid selection. Once isolated, the gene encoding the telRNA gene is mutated in vitro and cloned into a suitable expression vector. The expression vector can be transfected into human cancer cells, in vitro or in vivo . In either case, it is expected that the mutant telRNA will compete with the endogenous telRNA in the formation of active telomerase, resulting in the addition of aberrant telomere sequences to the ends of chromosomes. This is predicted to cause genetic instability and rapid cell death.

Inventors

• 👤 Eric Henderson

Bibliographic Details