Molecular Mechanism of Telomere Length Dynamics and Its Prognostic Value in Pediatric Cancers

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nerdyboy99
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 6:33 pm

Molecular Mechanism of Telomere Length Dynamics and Its Prognostic Value in Pediatric Cancers

Post by nerdyboy99 » Thu Oct 31, 2019 1:48 am

Molecular Mechanism of Telomere Length ... ic Cancers

Abstract

Background

We aimed to systematically evaluate telomere dynamics across a spectrum of pediatric cancers, search for underlying molecular mechanisms, and assess potential prognostic value.

Methods

The fraction of telomeric reads was determined from whole-genome sequencing data for paired tumor/normal samples from 653 patients with 23 cancer types from the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP). Telomere dynamics were characterized as the ratio of telomere fractions between tumor and normal samples. Somatic mutations were gathered, RNA sequencing data for 330 patients were analyzed for gene expression, and Cox regression was used to assess the telomere dynamics on patient survival.

Results

Telomere lengthening was observed in 28.7% of solid tumors, 10.5% of brain tumors, and 4.3% of hematological cancers. Among 81 samples with telomere lengthening, 26 had somatic mutations in ATRX, corroborated by a low level of ATRX expression in the subset of tumors with RNA sequencing. TERT amplification and/or activation was observed in 10 tumors with telomere lengthening, including 2 leukemias of the E2A-PBX1 subtype. Among hematological cancers, pathway analysis for genes with expressions most negatively correlated with telomere fractions suggest implication of a gene ontology process of antigen presentation by MHC class II. A higher ratio of telomere fractions was statistically significantly associated with poorer survival for patients with brain tumors (hazard ratio = 2.18, 95% confidence interval = 1.37 to 3.46).

Conclusion

Because telomerase inhibitors are currently being explored as potential agents to treat pediatric cancer, these data are valuable as they identify a subpopulation of patients with reactivation of telomerase who are most likely to benefit from this novel therapeutic option.

biopearl123
Posts: 1665
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 5:13 pm

Re: Molecular Mechanism of Telomere Length Dynamics and Its Prognostic Value in Pediatric Cancers

Post by biopearl123 » Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:13 am

nerdy boy, thank you for posting this. There is no doubt that the telomere is an essential part of normal cellular physiology as well as cancer pathology. That Geron holds IP in this area and has the only telomerase inhibitor in the clinic should be of great value. And yet... Regards, bp

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