Genome-wide screens identify specific drivers of mutant hTERT promoters

Abstract

Significance Mutations in hTERT promoter are seen in over 19% of human cancers, irrespective of the cancer type. Understanding the molecular players that regulate Mut- hTERT promoters may help the design of effective targeting strategies to inhibit telomerase reactivation specifically in cancer cells. Our work uses genome-wide functional screens to identify 30 specific regulators of Mut- hTERT promoters. These candidates identified from the screening serve as an excellent resource to understand how telomerase is reactivated and as targets for making inhibitors to telomerase, a key driver of cancer.