TERC and neoplasm: This TERC-53-induced p16 expression, coupled with the cell type-specific effects of TERC silencing/overexpression (Table 1), tempts us to draw a parallel between TERC and oncogenes: in differentiated, slowly proliferating cells (such as fibroblasts) TERC is not necessary, and its overexpression leads to senescence, while in stem, tumor and fast proliferating cells, TERC is necessary and its absence leads to apoptosis.