Telomerase is a valuable biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, as well as anticancer-drug screening. In this review, we focus on the general sensing mechanisms behind the advanced methods for telomerase activity detection. In terms of the unique properties of telomerase-extended primers, these sensing mechanisms are predominantly classified into three categories: i) mechanism based on hybridization reaction between DNA probes and extended primers, ii) mechanism based on guanine-rich tail of extended primers, iii) mechanism based on electronegativity of extended primers. Advanced telomerase assays corresponding to each sensing mechanism are then critically reviewed. Finally, we discuss current limitations of each sensing strategy and briefly illustrate our perspectives on future research directions in the field of telomerase activity analysis.

端粒酶是用于癌症的早期诊断和预后以及抗癌药物筛选的有价值的生物标志物。在这篇综述中，我们重点研究端粒酶活性检测高级方法背后的一般传感机制。就端粒酶延伸引物的独特性质而言，这些传感机制主要可分为三类：i）基于DNA探针与延伸引物之间杂交反应的机制，ii）基于富含鸟嘌呤的延伸引物尾巴的机制，iii ）基于延伸引物电负性的机理。然后严格审查与每种传感机制相对应的高级端粒酶测定。最后，