Short telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes in head and neck cancer: Findings in a Brazilian cohort

Abstract

Background Telomeres are specialized DNA structures that are critical to maintain cell homeostasis and to avoid genomic instability. Epidemiological studies have examined the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and risk of cancers, but the findings remain conflicting. Methods Mean LTL was measured by quantitative PCR in 97 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and 262 healthy controls. The association between LTL and patients' clinical status, such as smoke, alcoholism, and overall survival, were also evaluated. Results The age‐adjusted LTL was significantly shorter in patients with HNC in comparison to healthy controls (P = .0003). Patients with shortest LTL had an increased risk to develop HNC (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was observed between LTL and patients' clinical features and personal habits. Conclusions Our data support the hypothesis that LTL is a risk factor for HNC. The use of LTL as a biomarker can help physicians to identify high‐risk individuals for HNC.

Association of Relative Leucocyte Telomere Length and Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (TERT, TRF1, TNKS2) in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…On the other hand, other studies have revealed shortened telomeres in peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from patients with HNSCC compared to healthy controls. As found by Alves-Paiva et al in a Brazilian cohort of HNSCC patients, the median relative LTL was lower in HNSCC patients compared to age-matched healthy individuals, and this was associated with increased risk of HNSCC (14). Similarly, Barczak et al have reported the presence of shorter telomeres even in early stage HNSCC tumors (40).…”

“…Several studies have shown an association between changes in peripheral venous blood leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and cancer development (13). Raquel et al have found the association between short telomeres and head and neck cancer development (14). However, the literature data on this matter are rather controversial.…”

Clinical utility of telomere length measurements in cancer

“…Despite the obvious credentials that telomeres have as potential drivers of oncogenic transformation and cancer progression, the literature is full of studies that associate (normal) peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length to cancer pathologies [29][30][31][32][33][34]. As 4 cancer can be viewed as an unresolved inflammatory disorder, it is perhaps not surprising that telomere erosion in leukocytes is broadly indicative of disease [35].…”

Genetic Variation in the ZNF208 Gene at rs8103163 and rs7248488 Is Associated With Laryngeal Cancer in the Northwestern Chinese Han Male

“…Also, this gene was in connection with the response to imatinib mesylate treatment in patients with gastrintinal stromal tumors ( Group et al, 2009 ). Recently, rs8105767 variant within ZNF208 gene has attracted much attention in a genome-wide association study related to its relevance to telomere length ( Alves-Paiva et al, 2019 ). This variant was reported to be related to the risk of glioma and soft tissue sarcoma in a genome-wide association study related to its relevance to telomere length ( Vaiciulis et al, 2020 ; Gabriel et al, 2009 ).…”

“…Nevertheless, this SNP was not associated with reduced telomere length in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in a Chinese Han population ( Thomas et al, 2007 ). It has been discovered that there is an association between telomere length and head and neck cancer development ( Alves-Paiva et al, 2019 ). The attention has been increasingly focused on investigations of telomeres and telomere length regulating genes, due to their importance in aging and development of chronic diseases and malignant tumors.…”