For these reasons, telomerase inhibitors are being developed as potential anticancer agents. The hTR has a short sequence that is used as template for the synthesis of the telomeric repeats. Antisense oligonucleotides which are complimentary to part of the hTR template region have been shown to inhibit telomerase activity. The present invention describes a novel approach that will result in a more stable complex, and therefore more potent telomerase inhibitor.
Laboratory studies show activity in extracts of human cancer cells.