How Does Telomere Length Distribution Relate to Cancer?
Cancer cells often exhibit abnormal telomere length distribution. While normal cells show a gradual shortening of telomeres, cancer cells can have highly variable telomere lengths. Some cancer cells have extremely short telomeres, while others maintain long telomeres due to the activation of telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathways. This heterogeneity in telomere length allows cancer cells to bypass the typical cellular aging processes, contributing to their uncontrolled proliferation.
