Background: Telomere length and telomerase activity are crucial for cancer initiation and the survival of tumors. Telomere length is maintained by telomerase in 90% of human cancers, while 10% of cancers use an alternative mechanism of telomere lengthening termed (ALT). Another mechanism for Cancer cells is through activating or up-regulating the normally silent human TERT gene (hTERT) that encodes telomerase. Aim of Study:The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of a SNP in TERT gene rs2736098 on telomere length, furthermore, a study was conducted to investigate whether the changes of median values of Relative Telomere Length (RTL) is related to a SNP genotype. Patients and Methods:The study was conducted on a total number of 100 patients, subdivided into two groups HCC and HCV groups. SNP was measuring using Taqman probe on step-one real time PCR.Results: It was found that homozygous GG genotype in SNPrs2736098 was high in both HCC and HCV comparing to heterozygous GA genotype and variant AA genotype. Moreover, the frequency of the SNP rs2736098 G allele compare to A allele was higher in HCV than HCC 82% versus 76% respectively. Conclusion:There was no statistical significant difference observed on comparing a SNP rs2736098 in HCC and HCV groups and there was no statistically significant association was found (p=0.69) when we investigated whether the changes of median values of RTL is related to a SNP genotype.

Background: Telomere length and telomerase activity are crucial for cancer initiation and the survival of tumors. Telomere length is maintained by telomerase in 90% of human cancers, while 10% of cancers use an alternative mechanism of telomere lengthening termed (ALT). Another mechanism for Cancer cells is through activating or up-regulating the normally silent human TERT gene (hTERT) that encodes telomerase. Aim of Study:The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of a SNP in TERT gene rs13167280 on telomere length, furthermore, a study was conducted to investigate whether the changes of median values of Relative Telomere Length (RTL) is related to a SNP genotype. Patients and Methods:The study was conducted on a total number of 100 patients, subdivided into two groups HCC and HCV groups. SNP was measuring using Taqman probe on step-one real time PCR.Results: It was found that HCC patients had high frequency of heterozygous AG genotype than HCV patients 30% versus 22% and both groups had no homozygous AA genotype. Moreover, the frequency of G allele comparing to A allele in SNP rs13167280 was higher in HCV than HCC 90% versus 85% respectively. Conclusion:There was no statistical significant difference observed on comparing a SNP rs13167280 in HCC and HCV groups and there was no statistically significant association was found (p=0.34) when we investigated whether the changes of median values of RTL is related to a SNP genotype.