Molecular regulation of replicative lifespan; implications in carcinogenesis and haematopoiesis

体内正常细胞的寿命受限于它们能够复制的次数。相反，癌细胞可以无限复制——它们是不朽的。我们提出的研究将确定控制细胞寿命的机制如何在正常细胞进化成癌细胞时变得功能失调。了解这些机制将有助于开发新的抗癌药物，这些药物将逆转细胞不朽并停止癌细胞的复制。

The lifespan of normal cells in the body is limited by the number of times they can replicate. In contrast, cancer cells can replicate indefinitely – they are immortal. Our proposed investigations will determine how the mechanisms that control cell lifespan become dysfunctional as normal cells evolve into cancer cells. Understanding these mechanisms will enable the development of new anti-cancer drugs that will reverse cell immortality and halt the replication of cancer cells.