Telomerase: The Devil Inside

Telomerase: The Devil Inside

High telomerase activity is detected in nearly all human cancers but most human cells are devoid of telomerase activity. There is well-documented evidence that reactivation of telomerase occurs during cellular transformation. In humans, tumors can rely in reactivation of telomerase or originate in a telomerase positive stem/progenitor cell, or rely in alternative lengthening of telomeres, a tel...

Apelin, the Devil Inside Brain Tumors

Glioblastoma multiforme are mortifying brain tumors that contain a subpopulation of tumor cells with stem-like properties, termed as glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). These GSCs constitute an autonomous reservoir of aberrant cells able to initiate, maintain, and repopulate the tumor mass. A new therapeutic strategy would consist of targeting the GSC population. The GSCs are situated in periv...

The Tasmanian Devil and Devil Facial Tumour Disease

The global extirpation of the world’s apex predator fauna is consistently highlighting their important functional role in preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem resilience. Apex predator declines and extinctions are promoting more invasive and homogenised ecosystem states, linked with secondary species extinctions, changes to community composition, and redefined carnivore guilds. In ...

Poisoning the Devil

The red devil revisited.

When I went to medical school, I was taught that conceptually, the toxicity of doxorubicin and anthracyclines in general could be compared with that of acetaminophen, such that as long as I operated within “the safe dose,” patients with cancer would derive only benefits, not toxicity. I do not believe that my teachers are to be blamed for this thinking. If we take a look at the original von Hof...