Research Progress on Telomerase Activity Assays: From Traditional Methods to Novel Technologies

Abstract Telomerase serves as a critical biomarker in cancer, yet its accurate detection by conventional methods remains challenging because of cumbersome procedures and limited sensitivity. This Review systematically surveys emerging detection strategies based on optical techniques, biosensing platforms, visual detection, and intracellular imaging. The underlying principles and performance advantages of these novel approaches are delineated, and their prospective applications in cell identification and drug screening are discussed. Finally, future directions are envisioned to encompass multimodal integration and intelligent, artificial intelligence-driven development, aiming to provide a reference for advancing the precision detection of telomerase activity.