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Giaccherini M, Gentiluomo M, Fornili M, Lucenteforte E, Baglietto L, Campa D. Association between telomere length and mitochondrial copy number and cancer risk in humans: A meta-analysis on more than 300,000 individuals. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2021; 167:103510. [PMID: 34695574 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades the association of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial copy number (mtDNAcn) with cancer risk has been the focus of many reports, however the relation is not yet completely understood. A meta-analysis of 112 studies including 64,184 cancer cases and 278,641 controls that analysed LTL and mtDNAcn in relation to cancer risk has been conducted to further our understanding of the topic. Stratified analyses for tumor type were also performed. Overall, no association was observed for all cancer combined neither for LTL nor mtDNAcn. Significant associations were detected for these biomarkers and specific cancer type; however, a large degree of heterogeneity was present, even within the same tumor type. Alternatives approaches based on polymorphic variants, such as polygenic risk scores and mendelian randomization, could be adopted to unravel the causal correlation of telomere length and mitochondrial copy number with cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marco Fornili
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Ersilia Lucenteforte
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Laura Baglietto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Daniele Campa
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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2
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Oh BK, Choi Y, Choi JS. Telomere shortening and expression of TRF1 and TRF2 in uterine leiomyoma. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:606. [PMID: 34184077 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle tumor of the uterus that can exhibit histopathological traits that mimic malignancy. Telomere shortening is an early event in tumorigenesis and telomerase activation facilitates tumor progression later in the course of carcinogenesis. Telomeric repeat‑binding factor (TRF)1 and TRF2 protect telomeres, and their gene expression levels are dysregulated in various cancer types. However, the roles of telomeres and telomere protection proteins in uterine leiomyoma remain largely unknown. In this study, telomere length and the mRNA levels of various telomere‑related genes in normal tissues and leiomyoma were determined, and their relationships were evaluated. Uterine leiomyoma and normal myometrium were surgically obtained from 18 and 13 patients, respectively. Telomere length and gene expression were determined by Southern blot analysis and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, respectively. In matched samples, telomeres were consistently shorter in leiomyoma tissue than in adjacent normal tissue. TRF1, TRF2, PIN2‑interacting telomerase inhibitor 1 (PINX1), and telomerase RNA component were expressed at comparable levels in both leiomyoma and normal tissues. None of these genes were associated with telomere length in leiomyoma. All tested tissues were negative for telomerase reverse transcriptase, which encodes the catalytic component of telomerase, indicating that cells in uterine leiomyoma were not immortalized. In summary, telomere erosion, which reflects active proliferation during tumor evolution, was evident in uterine leiomyoma. Steady‑state expression of TRF1, TRF2 and PINX1 may be important for maintenance of telomere integrity in leiomyoma, where telomere length is shortened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bong-Kyeong Oh
- Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoojung Choi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong Sub Choi
- Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
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Tsai CW, Chang WS, Xu J, Xu Y, Huang M, Pettaway C, Bau DT, Gu J. Leukocyte telomere length is associated with aggressive prostate cancer in localized African American prostate cancer patients. Carcinogenesis 2021; 41:1213-1218. [PMID: 32614411 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres play important roles in cancer initiation and progression. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been associated with the risk and prognosis of several cancers, but its association with prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis in African Americans (AAs) has not been reported. In this study, we measured relative LTL from 317 AA PCa patients and assessed its associations with aggressive disease characteristics at diagnosis and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy. LTL was shorter in patients with higher Gleason scores (GS) at diagnosis. Dichotomized into short and long LTL groups, patients with short LTL exhibited a 1.91-fold (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.14-3.20, P = 0.013) increased risk of being diagnosed with high-risk disease (GS =7 [4 + 3] and GS ≥8) than those with long LTL in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Moreover, shorter LTL was significantly associated with an increased risk of BCR (hazard ratio = 1.68, 95% CI, 1.18-11.44, P = 0.024) compared with longer LTL in localized patients receiving prostatectomy or radiotherapy in multivariable Cox analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed patients with short LTL had significantly shorter BCR-free survival time than patients with long LTL (Log rank P = 0.011). In conclusion, our results showed for the first time that LTL was shorter in PCa patients with higher GS and short LTL was associated with worse prognosis in AA PCa patients receiving prostatectomy or radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wen Tsai
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Shin Chang
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Junfeng Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maosheng Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Curtis Pettaway
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Da-Tian Bau
- Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jian Gu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Dong K, Peng X, Huang J, Xia S, Yang Y. Association of leukocyte telomere length with metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021; 26:43. [PMID: 34484375 PMCID: PMC8384009 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_793_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been revealed to be associated with aging-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate the correlation of LTL with MetS and its components in T2DM patients in this cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: A total of 344 T2DM patients were enrolled into this study. LTL was measured by Southern blot-based terminal restriction fragment length analysis. MetS was clinically defined by 2007 Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults. Results: Of 344 T2DM patients, 53% had MetS. T2DM patients with MetS had significantly longer LTL than those without MetS (6451.95 ± 51.10 base pairs vs. 6076.13 ± 55.13 base pairs, P < 0.001), especially when T2DM patients had poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c ≥7%). Meanwhile, the trend of longer LTL was associated with the increased components of MetS in T2DM patient. Finally, LTL had a significant association with MetS (odds ratio [OR]: 2.096, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.337–3.285, P = 0.001), low levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR: 2.412, 95% CI 1.350–4.308, P = 0.003) in T2DM patients. Conclusion: T2DM patients with MetS had a significantly longer LTL than those without MetS. The longer LTL was especially evident in T2DM patients with poor glycemic control. Longer LTL was positively associated with MetS, particularly low levels of HDL-C in T2DM patients.
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Chen M, Xu Y, Xu J, Chancoco H, Gu J. Leukocyte Telomere Length and Bladder Cancer Risk: A Large Case–Control Study and Mendelian Randomization Analysis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 30:203-209. [DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-0351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Shanta K, Nakayama K, Ishikawa M, Ishibashi T, Yamashita H, Sato S, Sasamori H, Sawada K, Kurose S, Mahmud HM, Razia S, Iida K, Ishikawa N, Kyo S. Prognostic Value of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Telomere Length in Gynecologic Malignant Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061469. [PMID: 32512904 PMCID: PMC7352644 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Lymphocyte telomere length is strongly correlated with patient prognosis in several malignant tumor types and is thought to be related to tumor immunity. However, this correlation has not been studied in gynecological cancers. We determined the prognostic significance of peripheral blood lymphocyte telomere length in gynecologic cancers. Methods: Telomere length of lymphocytes from patients with gynecological malignant tumors (ovarian cancer (OC), N = 72; cervical cancer (CC), N = 63; endometrial cancer (EC), N = 87) was examined by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR of isolated mononuclear cells. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to determine the association between lymphocyte telomere length and clinicopathological factors. Results: The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients were based on the dichotomized lymphocyte telomere length using the median as a threshold (OC: 0.75, CC: 1.94, and EC: 1.09). A short telomere length was significantly correlated with residual tumors (≥1 cm) in OC and with advanced stage (III and IV) of CC. In OC and CC, patients with shorter relative lymphocyte telomere length (RLT) had significantly poorer OS and PFS than patients with longer RLT (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, and p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). However, in EC, RLT was not significantly associated with OS or PFS (p = 0.567 and p = 0.304, log-rank test). Multivariate analysis showed that shorter RLT was a significant independent prognostic factor of PFS and OS for OC (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively) and CC (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: Patients with OC and CC with shorter lymphocyte telomeres have significantly reduced survival; therefore, the peripheral blood lymphocyte telomere length is a prognostic biomarker in OC and CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamrunnahar Shanta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Kentaro Nakayama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Masako Ishikawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Tomoka Ishibashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Hitomi Yamashita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Seiya Sato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Hiroki Sasamori
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Kiyoka Sawada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Sonomi Kurose
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Hossain Mohammad Mahmud
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Sultana Razia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Kouji Iida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
| | - Noriyoshi Ishikawa
- Department of Organ Pathology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo 693-8501, Japan;
| | - Satoru Kyo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; (K.S.); (M.I.); (T.I.); (H.Y.); (S.S.); (H.S.); (K.S.); (S.K.); (H.M.M.); (S.R.); (K.I.); (S.K.)
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Long Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Associated with Increased Risks of Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030594. [PMID: 32150919 PMCID: PMC7139681 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been associated with the risks of several cancers in observational studies. Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, using genetic variants as instrumental variables, have also shown associations of genetically predicted LTL with cancer risks. In this study, we performed the first MR analysis on soft tissue sarcoma (STS) to investigate the causal relationship between LTL and the risk of STS. Methods: Genotypes from eleven LTL-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 821 STS cases and 851 cancer-free controls were aggregated into a weighted genetic risk score (GRS) to predict LTL. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of STS risk with individual SNPs and aggregated GRS. Results: Four SNPs displayed evidence for an individual association between long LTL-conferring allele and increased STS risk: rs7675998 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–1.43), rs9420907 (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.08–1.59), rs8105767 (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02–1.37), and rs412658 (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02–1.36). Moreover, longer genetically predicted LTL, calculated as GRS, was strongly associated with an increased risk of STS (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.18–1.75, p < 0.001), and there was a significant dose-response association (p for trend <0.001 in tertile and quartile analyses). The association of longer LTL with higher STS risk was more evident in women than in men. In stratified analyses by major STS subtypes, longer LTL was significantly associated with higher risks of leiomyosarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Conclusions: Longer LTL is associated with increased risks of STS.
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Xu J, Chang WS, Tsai CW, Bau DT, Xu Y, Davis JW, Thompson TC, Logothetis CJ, Gu J. Leukocyte telomere length is associated with aggressive prostate cancer in localized prostate cancer patients. EBioMedicine 2020; 52:102616. [PMID: 31981976 PMCID: PMC6992931 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.102616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres play important roles in cancer initiation and progression. The aim of this study is to investigate whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS We measured relative LTL in a cohort of 1,889 white PCa patients who were treated and followed up at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and assessed its associations with aggressive disease characteristics at diagnosis and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after active treatments (radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy). We further used a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to compute a weighted genetic risk score (GRS) predictive of LTL using 10 established LTL-associated genetic variants and determined whether this GRS is associated with aggressive PCa. FINDINGS LTL was significantly shorter in patients with higher Gleason scores at diagnosis. Dichotomized at the median value of LTL, patients with short LTL exhibited a 2.74-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.79-4.18, P = 3.11 × 10-6) increased risk of presenting with GS≥8 disease than those with long LTL in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Moreover, shorter LTL was significantly associated with an increased risk of BCR (hazard ratio = 1.53, 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.34) compared to longer LTL in localized patients receiving prostatectomy or radiotherapy with a significant dose-response association (P for trend = 0.017) in multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. In MR analysis, genetically predicted short LTL was also associated with an increased risk of BCR (HR=1.73, 95% CI, 1.08-2.78). INTERPRETATION Our results showed for the first time that LTL was shorter in PCa patients with high Gleason scores and that short LTL and genetically predicted short LTL are associated with worse prognosis in PCa patients receiving prostatectomy or radiotherapy. FUNDING Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) grant (RP140556), National Cancer Institute Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant (CA140388), and MD Anderson Cancer Center start-up fund.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Wen-Shin Chang
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wen Tsai
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Da-Tian Bau
- Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - John W Davis
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Timothy C Thompson
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Christopher J Logothetis
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Jian Gu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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Kresovich JK, Parks CG, Sandler DP, Taylor JA. Reproductive history and blood cell telomere length. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:2383-2393. [PMID: 30243019 PMCID: PMC6188490 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences that protect against chromosomal shortening. They are replenished by telomerase, an enzyme that may be activated by estrogen. Women have longer telomeres than men; this difference might be due to estrogen exposure. We hypothesized that reproductive histories reflecting greater estrogen exposure will be associated with longer blood cell telomeres. Among women in the Sister Study (n= 1,048), we examined telomere length in relation to self-reported data on reproductive history. The difference between age at menarche and last menstrual period was used to approximate the reproductive period. Relative telomere length (rTL) was measured using qPCR. After adjustment, rTL decreased with longer reproductive period (β= -0.019, 95% CI: -0.04, -0.00, p= 0.03). Premenopausal women had shorter rTL than postmenopausal women (β= -0.051, 95% CI: -0.12, 0.01, p= 0.13). Longer breastfeeding duration was associated with longer rTL (β= 0.027, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.05, p=0.01); increasing parity was associated with shorter rTL (β = -0.016, 95% CI: -0.03, 0.00, p=0.07). Duration of exogenous hormone use was not associated with rTL. Reproductive histories reflecting greater endogenous estrogen exposure were associated with shorter rTL. Our findings suggest that longer telomeres in women are unlikely to be explained by greater estrogen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob K Kresovich
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christine G Parks
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jack A Taylor
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.,Epigenetic and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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10
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Alnafakh RAA, Adishesh M, Button L, Saretzki G, Hapangama DK. Telomerase and Telomeres in Endometrial Cancer. Front Oncol 2019; 9:344. [PMID: 31157162 PMCID: PMC6533802 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres at the termini of human chromosomes are shortened with each round of cell division due to the “end replication problem” as well as oxidative stress. During carcinogenesis, cells acquire or retain mechanisms to maintain telomeres to avoid initiation of cellular senescence or apoptosis and halting cell division by critically short telomeres. The unique reverse transcriptase enzyme complex, telomerase, catalyzes the maintenance of telomeres but most human somatic cells do not have sufficient telomerase activity to prevent telomere shortening. Tissues with high and prolonged replicative potential demonstrate adequate cellular telomerase activity to prevent telomere erosion, and high telomerase activity appears to be a critical feature of most (80–90%) epithelial cancers, including endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancers regress in response to progesterone which is frequently used to treat advanced endometrial cancer. Endometrial telomerase is inhibited by progestogens and deciphering telomere and telomerase biology in endometrial cancer is therefore important, as targeting telomerase (a downstream target of progestogens) in endometrial cancer may provide novel and more effective therapeutic avenues. This review aims to examine the available evidence for the role and importance of telomere and telomerase biology in endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafah A A Alnafakh
- Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Meera Adishesh
- Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Button
- Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele Saretzki
- The Ageing Biology Centre and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Dharani K Hapangama
- Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Ko JMY, Tsang KHK, Dai W, Choi SSA, Leong MML, Ngan RKC, Kwong DLW, Cheng A, Lee AWM, Ng WT, Tung S, Lee VHF, Lam KO, Chan CKC, Lung ML. Leukocyte telomere length associates with nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk and survival in Hong Kong Chinese. Int J Cancer 2018; 143:2289-2298. [PMID: 29873071 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Telomere shortening occurs as an early event in tumorigenesis. The TERT-CLPTM1L locus associates with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk. It remains unknown if leukocyte telomere length (LTL) associates with NPC risk and survival. The relative LTL (rLTL) was measured by quantitative-PCR in 2,996 individuals comprised of 1,284 NPC cases and 1712 matched controls. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by logistic regression. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI were calculated by Cox regression for survival analysis with rLTL and other clinical parameters in 1,243 NPC with a minimum follow-up period of 25 months. NPC patients had significantly shorter telomere length than controls. Shorter rLTL significantly associated with increased NPC risk, when the individuals were dichotomized into long and short telomeres based on median-split rLTL in the control group (OR = 2.317; 95% CI = 1.989-2.700, p = 4.10 × 10-27 ). We observed a significant dose-response association (ptrend = 3.26 × 10-34 ) between rLTL and NPC risk with OR being 3.555 (95% CI = 2.853-4.429) for the individuals in the first quartile (shortest) compared with normal individuals in the fourth quartile (longest). A multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted by age demonstrated an independent effect of rLTL on NPC survival for late-stage NPC patients, when the individuals were categorized into suboptimal rLTL versus the medium rLTL based on a threshold set from normal (HR = 1.471, 95% CI = 1.056-2.048, p = 0.022). Shorter blood telomeres may be markers for higher susceptibility for NPC risk. Suboptimal rLTL may be a poor prognostic factor for advanced NPC patients, as it associates independently with poor survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Mun-Yee Ko
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Kay Hiu-Ki Tsang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Sheyne Sta Ana Choi
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Merrin Man-Long Leong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Roger Kai-Cheong Ngan
- Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Dora Lai-Wan Kwong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Ashley Cheng
- Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Anne Wing-Mui Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Wai Tong Ng
- Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Department of Clinical Oncology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Stewart Tung
- Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Victor Ho-Fun Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Ka-On Lam
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Candy King-Chi Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
| | - Maria Li Lung
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China.,Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), People's Republic of China
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12
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Starnino L, Busque L, Tardif JC, D’Antono B. Psychological Profiles in the Prediction of Leukocyte Telomere Length in Healthy Individuals. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165482. [PMID: 27788238 PMCID: PMC5082938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shorter telomere length (TL) may signal premature cellular aging and increased risk for disease. While depression and psychosocial stress have been associated with shorter telomeres, other psychological risk factors for cardiovascular disease have received less attention. PURPOSE To evaluate the association between TL and psychological risk factors (symptoms of anxiety and depression, hostility and defensiveness traits) for heart disease, and to examine whether chronological age and sex moderate the associations observed. METHODS 132 healthy men and women (Mage = 45.34 years) completed the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory II, The Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale. Relative TL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of total genomic DNA samples. A series of hierarchical linear regressions were performed controlling for pertinent covariates. RESULTS Shorter TL was observed among individuals high in defensiveness (β = -.221) and depressive symptoms (β = -.213), as well as in those with less hostility (β =.256) and anxiety (β =.220)(all Ps<.05). Psychological variables explained 19% of the variance over and above that explained by covariates (age, sex, exercise, alcohol consumption, systemic inflammation, and 24-hr mean arterial pressure). Age moderated the relation between TL and defensiveness (β =.179, p =.03). Sex did not influence any of the relations. CONCLUSIONS Telomere length is associated with psychological burden though the direction of effect differs depending on the psychological variables under study. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for and implications of these seemingly contradictory findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisia Starnino
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lambert Busque
- Research Center, Hematology Division, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Tardif
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Bianca D’Antono
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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13
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Zhang R, Zhao J, Xu J, Liu F. Association of peripheral leukocyte telomere length and its variation with pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer risk in Chinese population. Oncotarget 2016; 7:38579-85. [PMID: 27509261 PMCID: PMC5122412 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence supporting the role of telomeres in cancer pathogenesis. However, limited studies have investigated the association between telomere length features and risk of pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC), and little was conducted in Asians. To help clarify this issue, We measured relative peripheral leukocytes telomere length (LTL) and telomere length variation (TLV) in a prospective study of 900 pancreatic cancer cases, 300 CRC cases, and 900 controls. Both subjects with longer LTL (quartile 4: adjusted OR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.14-1.99, P=0.004) and shorter LTL (quartile 1: adjusted OR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.89-5.14, P=8.50x10-6) showed increased risk of pancreatic cancer. A linear increased risk was detected For TLV (adjusted OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.14-2.24, P=0.006). We also identified significant interaction for relative LTL, TLV on pancreatic cancer risk (P interaction =0.009). Significant relationship between shorter RTL and increased CRC risk were also detected. This findings provide insights into telomere dynamics and highlight the complex relationship between relative LTL, TLV and cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Colorectal surgery, Liaoning cancer hospital & institute, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110042, P.R. China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Department of Colorectal surgery, Liaoning cancer hospital & institute, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110042, P.R. China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Colorectal surgery, Liaoning cancer hospital & institute, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110042, P.R. China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Colorectal surgery, Liaoning cancer hospital & institute, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110042, P.R. China
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