Telomere Length In Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Research Articles

Chromosomal damage and telomere length in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cancer patients.

Accumulation of non‑specific structural chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and telomere shortening contribute to genome instability, which constitutes as one of the hallmarks of cancer. CAs arise due to direct DNA damage or telomere shortening. CAs in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), which are considered to be markers of exposure, have been previously reported to serve a role in the pathophysiology and progression of cancer through mechanisms that are poorly understood. In addition, the prognostic relevance of telomere length (TL) in patients with cancer remains to be elucidated. In the present study, CAs and TL in PBL isolated from patients with newly diagnosed cancer (151 breast, 96 colorectal, 90 lung) and 335 cancer‑free control individuals were investigated. These results were then correlated with clinicopathological factors and follow‑up data. The accumulation of CAs in PBL was observed with increased susceptibility to breast and lung cancer (P<0.0001), while individuals with longer TL were found to be at a higher risk of breast cancer (P<0.0001). Increased chromatid‑type aberrations were also revealed to be associated with lower overall survival of patients with breast and colorectal cancers using a multivariate model. Compared with control individuals, no association was observed between TL and CAs or age in patients with cancer. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the association between CAs/TL in PBL and the susceptibility, prognosis and survival of patients with breast, colorectal and lung cancer.

Telomere Length in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Contributes to the Development of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

Sexual transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV16, has been associated with an increasing incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC). Telomere shortening results in chromosomal instability, subsequently leading to cancer development. Given that HPV16 can affect telomerase activity and telomere length, we conjectured that telomere length in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) might affect the risk of HPV16-associated OPC and tumor HPV16 status in patients. Telomere length in PBLs and HPV16 serologic status were measured in peripheral blood samples in 188 patients with OPC, 137 patients with oral cavity cancer (OCC) and 335 controls of non-Hispanic Whites. Tumor HPV status was determined in 349 OPC cases. ORs and 95% confidence intervals were calculated in univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, as compared with the long telomere length, short telomere length was significantly associated with a moderately increased risk of OPC but not with increased risk of OCC. When we stratified the data by HPV16 serologic status, using long telomere length and HPV16 seronegativity as the reference group, we found that the risk associated with HPV16 seropositivity was higher among patients with OPC with short telomere length. Notably, such risk was particularly pronounced in never smokers, never drinkers, and those more than 50 years of age. Furthermore, short telomere length was also associated significantly with tumor HPV-positive OPC. Together, our findings suggest that telomere length in PBLs may be associated with higher risk of HPV16-associated OPC and tumor HPV16 status, particularly in certain patient subgroups. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.