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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.