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BIOMOLECULAR PROFILE OF COLORECTAL CANCER – THE ROLE OF TELOMERASE AS A POTENT BIOMARKER

JOHN TSIAOUSSIS1, LOUKIA VASSILOPOULOU2, TAXIARCHIS NIKOLOUZAKIS1, VALERII N. RAKITSKII3, ELENI VAKONAKI2, PERSEFONI FRAGIADAKI2, POLYCHRONIS STIVAKTAKIS2, ARISTIDES M. TSATSAKIS4*

1.Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71110, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
2 .Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71409, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
3 .Federal Scientific Centre of Hygiene, F.F. Erisman, 2, Semashko Street, Mytishchi, Moscow region, 141014, Russia
4 .Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003, Heraklion, Crete,
Greece

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a very frequently diagnosed pathological entity, registering an elevated incidence rate each year. CRC stems from both a genetic and an environmental background, exhibiting divergent molecular and biological phenotypes, and rendering its therapy, follow-up and prognosis a demanding task. Telomerase, a complex consisting of the catalytic protein human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and the mRNA template hTERC, is related to the preservation of telomere length (TL). A wide range of studies suggest that hTERT also partakes in signalling pathways relevant to proliferation and apoptosis. Thus, the potent role of telomerase as a biomarker for CRC behaviour emerges as a reasonable inquiry.