這個過程不會發生在大多數的癌細胞中,起因在於一種稱做端粒酶的酵素。此酵素可以維持端粒的長度,這會導致癌細胞中的端粒不會縮短,且給予這些細胞無限複製的潛力[8]。目前正在研擬中的癌症治療方案(英语:Experimental cancer treatment)提出使用酶抑制劑,可以阻止端粒的復原,讓癌細胞變得如同一般體細胞一樣凋亡[9]。此外,端粒酶激活劑可以修復或延長健康細胞中的端粒,進而延長這些健康細胞的海佛烈克極限,但也会給予它们癌細胞的特徵。端粒酶的激活也可能延長免疫系統中細胞的端粒長度,來預防端粒非常短的細胞發生癌变[來源請求]。
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