| Telomeres, the nucleoprotein structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, have multiple roles in tumorigenesis. The shelterin complex consists of six telomere-specific proteins that are involved in the protection of the
telomeres. The shelterin complex protects the telomeres from degradation, prevents the activation of unwanted
repair systems, and regulates the activity of telomerase. However, alteration in the structure and function of the
shelterin complex proteins may lead to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. The shelterin complex biology
revealed that the manipulation of the shelterin proteins could be a new strategy in cancer therapy. In this review,
we focused on shelterin components' roles in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancers. |