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Koi Y, Tsutani Y, Nishiyama Y, Kanda M, Shiroma Y, Yamamoto Y, Sasada S, Akita T, Masumoto N, Kadoya T, Takahashi RU, Tanaka J, Okada M, Tahara H. Diagnostic performance of peripheral leukocyte telomere G-tail length for detecting breast cancer. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:1856-1861. [PMID: 32249523 PMCID: PMC7226277 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The telomere G‐tail (G‐tail) plays an essential role in maintaining chromosome stability. In this study, we assessed the leukocyte G‐tail length of breast cancer (BC) patients and cancer‐free individuals and evaluated the association between the G‐tail length and the presence of BC. A significant shortening of the median G‐tail length was observed in BC patients compared with cancer‐free individuals and was found in the early phase of BC. Our study indicated that the leukocyte G‐tail length might be a potential biomarker for BC detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiko Koi
- Surgical Oncology, Division of Radiation Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Center for Radiation Casualty Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tsutani
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Center for Radiation Casualty Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yukie Nishiyama
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Miyuki Kanda
- Collaborative Laboratory of Liquid Biopsy, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yoshitomo Shiroma
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Sasada
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Center for Radiation Casualty Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Akita
- Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Norio Masumoto
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Center for Radiation Casualty Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kadoya
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Center for Radiation Casualty Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Ryou-U Takahashi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Junko Tanaka
- Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Morihito Okada
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Center for Radiation Casualty Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Tahara
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Collaborative Laboratory of Liquid Biopsy, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,The Research Center for Drug Development and Biomarker Discovery, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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2
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Armstrong CA, Tomita K. Fundamental mechanisms of telomerase action in yeasts and mammals: understanding telomeres and telomerase in cancer cells. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.160338. [PMID: 28330934 PMCID: PMC5376709 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of telomerase occurs in 85–90% of all cancers and underpins the ability of cancer cells to bypass their proliferative limit, rendering them immortal. The activity of telomerase is tightly controlled at multiple levels, from transcriptional regulation of the telomerase components to holoenzyme biogenesis and recruitment to the telomere, and finally activation and processivity. However, studies using cancer cell lines and other model systems have begun to reveal features of telomeres and telomerase that are unique to cancer. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the mechanisms of telomerase recruitment and activation using insights from studies in mammals and budding and fission yeasts. Finally, we discuss the differences in telomere homeostasis between normal cells and cancer cells, which may provide a foundation for telomere/telomerase targeted cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A Armstrong
- Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Kazunori Tomita
- Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
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3
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Liu Z, Zhao J, Zhang R, Han G, Zhang C, Liu B, Zhang Z, Han MY, Gao X. Cross-Platform Cancer Cell Identification Using Telomerase-Specific Spherical Nucleic Acids. ACS NANO 2018; 12:3629-3637. [PMID: 29595962 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Distinguishing tumor cells from normal cells holds the key to precision diagnosis and effective intervention of cancers. The fundamental difficulties, however, are the heterogeneity of tumor cells and the lack of truly specific and ideally universal cancer biomarkers. Here, we report a concept of tumor cell detection, bypassing the specific genotypic and phenotypic features of different tumor cell types and directly going toward the hallmark of cancer, uncontrollable growth. Combining spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) with exquisitely engineered molecular beacons (SNA beacons, dubbed SNAB technology) is capable of identifying tumor cells from normal cells based on the molecular phenotype of telomerase activity, largely bypassing the heterogeneity problem of cancers. Owing to the cell-entry capability of SNAs, the SNAB probe readily achieves tumor cell detection across multiple platforms, ranging from solution-based assay, to single cell imaging and in vivo solid tumor imaging (unlike PCR that is restricted to cell lysates). We envision the SNAB technology will impact cancer diagnosis, therapeutic response assessment, and image-guided surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjie Liu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Jun Zhao
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
| | - Ruilong Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , China
| | - Guangmei Han
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
| | - Bianhua Liu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
| | - Zhongping Zhang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , China
| | - Ming-Yong Han
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Institute of Intelligent Machines , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei , Anhui 230031 , China
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering , A-STAR , 3 Research Link , Singapore 117602
| | - Xiaohu Gao
- Department of Bioengineering , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States
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4
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Jeung HC, Rha SY, Shin SJ, Ahn JB, Park KH, Kim TS, Kim JJ, Roh JK, Chung HC. Changes in telomerase activity due to alternative splicing of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:2385-2392. [PMID: 28781675 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression level may not always correlate with telomerase activity. The present study analyzed hTERT splicing patterns with respect to hTERT and telomerase activity in colorectal cancer. Telomerase activity was determined by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, and spliced variants of hTERT were identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 40 colorectal cancer tissue samples. In the lower range of telomerase activity (0-100 units), the percentage of the β variant decreased with the increment in telomerase activity, whereas in the higher range of telomerase activity (>100 units), total hTERT expression level revealed a trend toward increment. There was a positive correlation between the full-length variant level and β variant level. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between the percentage of the full-length variant and β variant. Tumor-node-metastasis stage was the strongest prognostic factor in multivariate analysis and the percentage of the full-length variant was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Telomerase activity was primarily altered with changes in alternative splicing of the full-length and β variants of hTERT in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hei Cheul Jeung
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06273, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Young Rha
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Joon Shin
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong Bae Ahn
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu Hyun Park
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Soo Kim
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Ju Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Kyung Roh
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Cheol Chung
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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Kaya Z, Akkiprik M, Karabulut S, Peker I, Gullu Amuran G, Ozmen T, Gulluoglu BM, Kaya H, Ozer A. Comparison of telomere length and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 promoter methylation between breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues in Turkish women. J Clin Lab Anal 2016; 31. [PMID: 27775181 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.22083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and telomere length (TL) are associated with proliferation and senescence of human breast cancer. This study assessed the clinical significance of both TL and IGFBP7 methylation status in breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. We also investigated whether IGFBP7 methylation status could be affecting TL. METHODS Telomere length was measured by quantitative PCR to compare tumors with their adjacent normal tissues. The IGFBP7 promoter methylation status was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR and its expression levels were determined by western blotting. RESULTS Telomeres were shorter in tumor tissues compared to controls (P<.0001). The mean TL was higher in breast cancer with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC; n=72; P=.014) compared with other histological type (n=29), and TL in IDC with HER2 negative (n=53; P=.017) was higher than TL in IDC with HER2 positive (n=19). However, telomeres were shortened in advanced stages and growing tumors. IGFBP7 methylation was observed in 90% of tumor tissues and 59% of controls (P=.0002). Its frequency was significantly higher in IDC compared with invasive mixed carcinoma (IMC; P=.002) and it was not correlated either with protein expression or the other clinicopathological parameters. CONCLUSION These results suggest that IGFBP7 promoter methylation and shorter TL in tumor compared with adjacent tissues may be predictive biomarkers for breast cancer. Telomere maintenance may be indicative of IDC and IDC with HER2 (-) of breast cancer. Further studies with larger number of cases are necessary to verify this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra Kaya
- Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Akkiprik
- Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sevgi Karabulut
- Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Bayburt, Turkey
| | - Irem Peker
- Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gokce Gullu Amuran
- Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tolga Ozmen
- General Surgery, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Handan Kaya
- Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayse Ozer
- Medical Biology Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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6
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Wu X, Tanaka H. Aberrant reduction of telomere repetitive sequences in plasma cell-free DNA for early breast cancer detection. Oncotarget 2016; 6:29795-807. [PMID: 26356673 PMCID: PMC4745763 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive telomere shortening is observed in breast cancer lesions when compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues, suggesting that telomere length may represent a key biomarker for early cancer detection. Because tumor-derived, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is often released from cancer cells and circulates in the bloodstream, we hypothesized that breast cancer development is associated with changes in the amount of telomeric cfDNA that can be detected in the plasma. To test this hypothesis, we devised a novel, highly sensitive and specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay, termed telomeric cfDNA qPCR, to quantify plasma telomeric cfDNA levels. Indeed, the internal reference primers of our design correctly reflected input cfDNA amount (R2 = 0.910, P = 7.82 × 10−52), implying accuracy of this assay. We found that plasma telomeric cfDNA levels decreased with age in healthy individuals (n = 42, R2 = 0.094, P = 0.048), suggesting that cfDNA is likely derived from somatic cells in which telomere length shortens with increasing age. Our results also showed a significant decrease in telomeric cfDNA level from breast cancer patients with no prior treatment (n = 47), compared to control individuals (n = 42) (P = 4.06 × 10−8). The sensitivity and specificity for the telomeric cfDNA qPCR assay was 91.49% and 76.19%, respectively. Furthermore, the telomeric cfDNA level distinguished even the Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) group (n = 7) from the healthy group (n = 42) (P = 1.51 × 10−3). Taken together, decreasing plasma telomeric cfDNA levels could be an informative genetic biomarker for early breast cancer detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Hiromi Tanaka
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Fernández-Marcelo T, Gómez A, Pascua I, de Juan C, Head J, Hernando F, Jarabo JR, Calatayud J, Torres-García AJ, Iniesta P. Telomere length and telomerase activity in non-small cell lung cancer prognosis: clinical usefulness of a specific telomere status. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2015; 34:78. [PMID: 26250468 PMCID: PMC4528384 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0195-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background Considering previous data and the need to incorporate new biomarkers for the prognosis of solid tumours into the clinic, our aim in this work consists of evaluating the potential clinical use of telomeres and telomerase in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Telomere status was established by determination of telomere length using the Terminal Restriction Fragment length method, and telomerase activity by the Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol in 142 NSCLCs and their corresponding control samples, obtained from patients submitted to surgery. Group-oriented curves for disease-free survival were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method considering telomere length, T/N ratio (telomere length in tumour to control tissue) and telomerase activity. Results Overall, tumours had significantly shorter telomeres compared with telomeres in control tissues (P = 0.027). More than 80 % of NSCLCs displayed telomerase activity. Regarding prognosis studies, patients whose tumours showed a mean telomere length (MTL) <7.29 Kb or T/N ratio <0.97 showed a significantly poor clinical evolution (P = 0.034 and P = 0.040, respectively). As result of a Cox multivariate analysis including pathologic state and lymph node dissemination, the MTL and T/N ratio emerged as independent significant prognostic factors. Conclusions Telomerase activity was identified as a marker of poor prognosis. The novel finding of this study is the independent prognosis role of a specific telomere status in NSCLC patients. According to our results, telomere function may emerge as a useful molecular tool that allow to select groups of NSCLC patients with different clinical evolution, in order to establish personalized therapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Fernández-Marcelo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II. Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Sq. Ramón y Cajal s/n (Ciudad Universitaria), Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Ana Gómez
- Service of Thoracic Surgery, San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Irene Pascua
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II. Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Sq. Ramón y Cajal s/n (Ciudad Universitaria), Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Carmen de Juan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II. Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Sq. Ramón y Cajal s/n (Ciudad Universitaria), Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Jacqueline Head
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II. Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Sq. Ramón y Cajal s/n (Ciudad Universitaria), Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Florentino Hernando
- Service of Thoracic Surgery, San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Jose-Ramón Jarabo
- Service of Thoracic Surgery, San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Joaquín Calatayud
- Service of Thoracic Surgery, San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Antonio-José Torres-García
- Service of General Surgery and Digestive Tract, San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Pilar Iniesta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II. Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University, Sq. Ramón y Cajal s/n (Ciudad Universitaria), Madrid, 28040, Spain. .,Sanitary Research Institute of San Carlos Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
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8
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Kar A, Chowdhury S. Inhibition of telomerase activity by NME2: impact on metastasis suppression? Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2014; 388:235-41. [PMID: 25547372 PMCID: PMC4469096 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-014-1077-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Though anti-metastatic function of non-metastatic 2 (NME2) has been implicated in multiple cancers, mechanisms of metastases control by NME2 are not clearly understood. Recent observations indicating the involvement of telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein required for telomere synthesis, in metastatic outcome are interesting. Notably, though the role of telomerase dysfunction in tumorigenesis is relatively well studied, involvement in metastasis progression is poorly understood. Recent findings demonstrate NME2 presence at telomere ends, association with telomerase, and NME2’s role in inhibition of telomerase activity in cancer cells. These present a novel opportunity to investigate mechanisms underlying NME2-mediated metastasis suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Kar
- Proteomics and Structural Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mathura Road, New Delhi, 110025, DELHI, India
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Abstract
The role telomeres and telomerase play in the initiation and progression of human cancers has been extensively evaluated. Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes comprising the hexanucleotide DNA repeat sequence, TTAGGG and numerous telomere-associated proteins, including the six member Shelterin complex. The main function of the telomere is to stabilize the ends of the chromosomes. However, through multiple mechanisms, telomeres can become dysfunctional, which may drive genomic instability leading to the development of cancer. The majority of human cancers maintain, or actively lengthen, telomeres through up-regulation of the reverse transcriptase telomerase. Because there are significant differences in telomere length and telomerase activity between malignant and non-malignant tissues, many investigations have assessed the potential to utilize these molecular markers for cancer diagnosis. Here, we critically evaluate whether measurements of telomere lengths and telomerase levels may be clinically utilized as diagnostic markers in solid tumours, with emphasis on breast and prostate cancer as representative examples. Future directions focusing on the direct detection of dysfunctional telomeres are explored. New markers for telomere dysfunction may eventually prove clinically useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Heaphy
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
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10
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Shen J, Terry MB, Gurvich I, Liao Y, Senie RT, Santella RM. Short telomere length and breast cancer risk: a study in sister sets. Cancer Res 2007; 67:5538-44. [PMID: 17545637 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-3490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres consist of a tandem repeats of the sequence TTAGGG at the ends of chromosomes and play a key role in the maintenance of chromosomal stability. Previous studies indicated that short telomeres are associated with increased risk for human bladder, head and neck, lung, and renal cell cancer. We investigated the association between white blood cell telomere length and breast cancer risk among 268 family sets (287 breast cancer cases and 350 sister controls). Telomere length was assessed by quantitative PCR. The mean telomere length was shorter in cases (mean, 0.70; range, 0.03-1.95) than in unaffected control sisters (mean, 0.74; range, 0.03-2.29), but no significant difference was observed (P = 0.11). When subjects were categorized according to the median telomere length in controls (0.70), affected sisters had shorter telomeres compared with unaffected sisters after adjusting for age at blood donation and smoking status [odds ratio (OR), 1.3; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.9-1.8], but the association was not statistically significant. The association by quartile of telomere length (Q4 shortest versus Q1 longest) also supported an increase in risk from shorter telomere length, although the association was not statistically significant (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.7). This association was more pronounced among premenopausal women (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.8-5.5) than postmenopausal women (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.5-3.6 for Q4 versus Q1). If these associations are replicated in larger studies, they provide modest epidemiologic evidence that shortened telomere length may be associated with breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
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11
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Meeker AK, Argani P. Telomere shortening occurs early during breast tumorigenesis: a cause of chromosome destabilization underlying malignant transformation? J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2004; 9:285-96. [PMID: 15557801 DOI: 10.1023/b:jomg.0000048775.04140.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal instability appears early during breast carcinogenesis and is considered a major driving force in malignant transformation. While current evidence suggests that centrosomal and mitotic checkpoint defects may, in large part, account for numerical chromosomal abnormalities, the mechanisms underlying structural chromosomal abnormalities remain largely unknown. Telomeres stabilize and protect chromosomal termini, but shorten due to cell division and oxidative damage. Moderate telomere shortening signals a tumor suppressive growth arrest in normal cells. Critically short telomeres, in the setting of abrogated DNA damage checkpoints, cause chromosomal instability due to end-to-end chromosomal fusions, subsequent breakage, and rearrangement, resulting in an increased cancer incidence in animal models. Recent results from high resolution in situ telomere length assessment in human breast tissues indicate that significant telomere shortening is prevalent in preinvasive breast lesions (DCIS), as well as focal areas of histologically normal epithelium from which breast carcinoma is thought to arise. Telomere shortening is therefore a strong candidate for the cause of structural chromosome defects that contribute to breast cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan K Meeker
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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12
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Meeker AK, Hicks JL, Gabrielson E, Strauss WM, De Marzo AM, Argani P. Telomere shortening occurs in subsets of normal breast epithelium as well as in situ and invasive carcinoma. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2004; 164:925-35. [PMID: 14982846 PMCID: PMC1614707 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)63180-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the setting of inactivated DNA damage-sensitive checkpoints, critically shortened telomeres promote chromosomal instability and the types of widespread cytogenetic alterations that characterize most human carcinomas. Using a direct telomere fluorescence in situ hybridization technique, we analyzed 114 invasive breast carcinomas, 29 carcinoma in situ lesions, 10 benign proliferative lesions, and different normal epithelial components of the male and female breast. We found marked telomere shortening in the majority (52.5%) of invasive carcinomas; smaller subsets of invasive carcinoma demonstrated moderate telomere shortening (17.5%) or normal telomere lengths (21%), while a small subgroup (5%) contained elongated telomeres. Strikingly, the majority (78%) of ductal carcinoma in situ demonstrated markedly or moderately shortened telomeres. Surprisingly, unlike all other normal epithelia studied to date, moderate telomere shortening was observed in benign secretory cells in approximately 50% of histologically-normal terminal duct lobular units (from which most breast cancer is thought to arise), while such shortening was not seen in myoepithelial cells or normal large lactiferous ducts of the female breast or male breast ducts (from which breast cancer infrequently arises). We postulate that such shortening is the result of hormonally driven, physiological proliferation, and may delineate a population of epithelial cells at risk for subsequent malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan K Meeker
- Department of Pathology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Papadopoulou A, Trangas T, Teixeira MR, Heim S, Dimitriadis E, Tsarouha H, Andersen JA, Evangelou E, Ioannidis P, Agnantis NJ, Pandis N. Telomerase activity and genetic alterations in primary breast carcinomas. Neoplasia 2003; 5:170-8. [PMID: 12659690 PMCID: PMC1502403 DOI: 10.1016/s1476-5586(03)80009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
It has been proposed that the structural and numerical chromosome abnormalities recorded in breast cancer could be the result of telomere dysfunction and that telomerase is activated de novo to provide a survival mechanism curtailing further chromosomal aberrations. However, recent in vivo and in vitro data show that the ectopic expression of telomerase promotes tumorigenesis via a telomere length-independent mechanism. In this study, the relation between telomerase expression and the extent of chromosomal aberrations was investigated in 62 primary breast carcinomas. Telomerase activity was measured using a polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and 92% of the tumors were found to express telomerase with a relative activity ranging from 0 to 3839.6. Genetic alterations were determined by G-banding and comparative genomic hybridization analysis and 97% of the tumors exhibited chromosomal aberrations ranging from 0 to 44 (average: 10.98). In the overall series, the relationship between telomerase activity levels and genetic changes could be best described by a quadratic model, whereas in tumors with below-average genetic alteration numbers, a significant positive association was recorded between the two variables (coefficient=0.374, P=.017). The relationship between telomerase activity levels and the extent of genetic alteration may reflect the complex effect of telomerase activation upon tumor progression in breast carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Theoni Trangas
- Department of Genetics, Saint Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Manuel R Teixeira
- Department of Genetics, Portuguese Oncology Institute, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sverre Heim
- Department of Cancer Genetics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Johan A Andersen
- Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Evangelos Evangelou
- Department of Public Health, School of Nursing, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Nikos Pandis
- Department of Genetics, Saint Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Saito K, Yagihashi A, Nasu S, Izawa Y, Nakamura M, Kobayashi D, Tsuji N, Watanabe N. Gene expression for suppressors of telomerase activity (telomeric-repeat binding factors) in breast cancer. Jpn J Cancer Res 2002; 93:253-8. [PMID: 11927006 PMCID: PMC5926971 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2002.tb02166.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms regulating telomerase activity and telomere length remain incompletely understood in human breast cancer. We therefore studied gene expression for telomeric-repeat binding factors (TRFs) in relation to telomerase activity, telomere length, and clinicopathologic factors in human breast cancer. Telomerase activity was detected in 65.8% of 38 breast cancers, but none of 16 noncancerous samples. Terminal restriction fragments were longer in noncancerous than in cancerous tissues, but not significantly. Among 8 patients with both cancer and paired noncancerous tissue available for terminal restriction fragments length assay, terminal restriction fragments were shorter in cancers than in paired noncancerous samples in all but one. Significantly more mRNA encoding TRF1 and 2 was detected in noncancerous than in cancer tissues. Additionally, expression of TRF1 and 2 mRNA was significantly higher in cancers without detectable telomerase activity than in cancers showing activity. Expression of these genes tended to show a negative correlation with terminal restriction fragments length, but this was not statistically significant. No correlation was seen between TRF1 or 2 mRNA expression, and clinicopathologic factors except for TRF1 with respect to tumor size and progesterone receptor status. In addition to reactivation of telomerase activity, escape from negative regulation of this activity is needed to maintain telomere length during cell proliferation in breast cancer. Genes encoding telomerase inhibitors might be of value in gene therapy against human breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Saito
- Division of Laboratory Diagnosis, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan
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