Telomerase targeted anticancer bioactive prodrug by antisense-based approach

A deoxy 11-mer oligonucleotide 5′-GTTAGGGTTAG-3′, complementary to a repeat sequence of human telomerase RNA template has been linked through phosphate and a C-2 linker to a bioactive tetraglycine conjugate of curcumin, a well-known antitumor herbal spice component of turmeric. This molecule has been transfected into KB and HeLa cell lines and found to affect cell growth in the former. This DNA–curcumin–tetraglycine acts as a prodrug being targeted by antisense mechanism to telomerase.