Telomerase activity is critical for cancer cells to provide unrestricted proliferation and cellular immortality through maintaining telomeres. Telomerase enzymatic activity is regulatable at the level of DNA, mRNA, post translational modifications, cellular transport and enzyme assembly. More recent studies confirm the interaction of the telomerase with various intracellular signaling pathways including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin which mainly participating in inflammation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, hTERT protein has been detected in non-nuclear sites such as the mitochondria and cytoplasm in cells. Mitochondrial TERT indicates various non-telomere-related functions such as decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, boosting the respiration rate, protecting mtDNA by direct binding, interacting with mitochondrial tRNAs and increasing mitochondrial membrane potential which can lead to higher chemoresistance rate in cancer cells during therapies. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the TERT function and depended interactions in tumor cells can suggest novel therapeutic approaches. Hence, in this review we will explain the telomerase activity regulation in translational and post translational levels besides the established correlations with various cell signaling pathways with possible pathways for therapeutic targeting.

端粒酶活性对于癌细胞通过维持端粒提供不受限制的增殖和细胞永生性至关重要。端粒酶的酶活性可在DNA，mRNA，翻译后修饰，细胞转运和酶组装的水平上调节。最近的研究证实端粒酶与包括PI3K / AKT / mTOR，NF-κB和Wnt /β-catenin在内的各种细胞内信号通路的相互作用，它们主要参与炎症，上皮向间质转化（EMT）和肿瘤细胞的侵袭和转移。此外，已经在细胞的线粒体和细胞质等非核部位检测到hTERT蛋白。线粒体TERT指示各种非端粒相关功能，例如减少活性氧（ROS）生成，提高呼吸速率，通过直接结合，与线粒体tRNA相互作用以及增加线粒体膜电位来保护mtDNA，从而可以在治疗过程中提高癌细胞的化学耐药率。了解TERT功能的分子机制和肿瘤细胞中相互依赖的相互作用可以提出新颖的治疗方法。因此，在这篇综述中，我们将解释翻译水平和翻译后水平的端粒酶活性调节，以及与各种细胞信号传导途径与治疗靶向途径的已建立的相关性。了解TERT功能的分子机制和肿瘤细胞中相互依赖的相互作用可以提出新颖的治疗方法。因此，在这篇综述中，我们将解释翻译水平和翻译后水平的端粒酶活性调节，以及与各种细胞信号传导途径与治疗靶向途径的已建立的相关性。了解TERT功能的分子机制和肿瘤细胞中相互依赖的相互作用可以提出新颖的治疗方法。因此，在这篇综述中，我们将解释翻译水平和翻译后水平的端粒酶活性调节，以及与各种细胞信号传导途径与治疗靶向途径的已建立的相关性。