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oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/932532024-05-14T17:30:18Zcom_20.500.14352_14col_20.500.14352_15

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Fernández-Marcelo, Tamara author Sánchez Pernaute, Andrés author Pascua, Irene author Juan Chocano, María Del Carmen De author Head, Jacqueline author Torres García, Antonio José author Iniesta Serrano, María Pilar author 2016-02-25 The role of telomeres and telomerase in colorectal cancer (CRC) is well established as the major driving force in generating chromosomal instability. However, their potential as prognostic markers remains unclear. We investigated the outcome implications of telomeres and telomerase in this tumour type. We considered telomere length (TL), ratio of telomere length in cancer to non-cancer tissue (T/N ratio), telomerase activity and TERT levels; their relation with clinical variables and their role as prognostic markers. We analyzed 132 CRCs and paired non-cancer tissues. Kaplan-Meier curves for disease-free survival were calculated for TL, T/N ratio, telomerase activity and TERT levels. Overall, tumours had shorter telomeres than non-tumour tissues (P < 0.001) and more than 80% of CRCs displayed telomerase activity. Telomere lengths of non-tumour tissues and CRCs were positively correlated (P < 0.001). Considering telomere status and clinical variables, the lowest degree of telomere shortening was shown by tumours located in the rectum (P = 0.021). Regarding prognosis studies, patients with tumours showing a mean TL < 6.35 Kb experienced a significantly better clinical evolution (P < 0.001) and none of them with the highest degree of tumour telomere shortening relapsed during the follow-up period (P = 0.043). The mean TL in CRCs emerged as an independent prognostic factor in the Cox analysis (P = 0.017). Telomerase-positive activity was identified as a marker that confers a trend toward a poor prognosis. In CRC, our results support the use of telomere status as an independent prognostic factor. Telomere status may contribute to explaining the different molecular identities of this tumour type. Fernández-Marcelo T, Sánchez-Pernaute A, Pascua I, De Juan C, Head J, Torres-García A-J, et al. Clinical Relevance of Telomere Status and Telomerase Activity in Colorectal Cancer. PLoS ONE 2016;11:e0149626. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149626. 10.1371/journal.pone.0149626 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93253 1932-6203 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149626 Clinical Relevance of Telomere Status and Telomerase Activity in Colorectal Cancer