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

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