NCIt definition : A cancer vaccine directed against human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT),
the catalytic subunit of human telomerase, with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic
activities. Upon administration, hTERT vaccine V934/V935 may elicit a cytotoxic T
cell (CTL) response against telomerase-expressing tumor cells, which may result in
tumor cell death. Telomerase is involved in the restoration and maintenance of telomere
length and so the functional lifespan of cells. Abnormally reactivated in tumorigenesis,
telomerase is expressed in the majority of human cancer cells but is not expressed
or is expressed at very low levels in normal cells.;
Semantic type(s)