NCIt definition : A highly soluble, orally available trivalent arsenic-containing telomerase inhibitor
with potential antitumor activity. Although the exact mechanism through which sodium
metaarsenite exerts its effect has yet to be fully elucidated, this agent appears
to target and bind to telomeric sequences, specifically TTAGGG repeats, leading to
a shortening of telomeres, and subsequent induction of apoptosis and inhibition of
tumor cell growth. In addition, sodium metaarsenite also leads to the translocation
of the catalytic subunit of telomerase into the cytoplasm and inhibition of the activity
of telomerase. Telomerase is active in most tumors cells and is responsible for the
maintenance of telomere length and plays a key role in cellular proliferation, but
is quiescent in normal, healthy cells. The susceptibility to sodium metaarsenite seems
to be inversely correlated with initial length of telomeres.;
Currated CISMeF NLP mapping