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Mini Review Volume 17 Issue 2
Longevity, telomeres and cancer
Adrian Hunis MD
Emeritus member of ASCO, ESMO, Honorary member of AMA, Argentina
Received: April 13, 2026 | Published: April 23, 2026
Citation: Hunis A. Longevity, telomeres and cancer. J Cancer Prev Curr Res. 2026;17(2):52‒54. DOI: 10.15406/jcpcr.2026.17.00606
Abstract
Telomeres are essential regulators of chromosomal integrity, cellular lifespan, and organismal aging. Progressive telomere shortening limits replicative capacity and functions as a tumor suppressor mechanism. However, critically short telomeres can induce genomic instability, facilitating carcinogenesis. In contrast, reactivation of telomerase in malignant cells restores replicative immortality. This dual and paradoxical role places telomeres at the center of the intersection between longevity and cancer. This editorial reviews the molecular mechanisms underlying telomere biology, its clinical implications, and emerging therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: genomic instability, carcinogénesis, clinical implications, nucleotide sequences, malignant transformation
©2026 Hunis. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.