Chromosome 9 arm-specific telomere length and breast cancer risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telomere dysfunction is involved in the development of breast cancer and very short telomeres are frequent genetic alterations in breast tumors. However, the influence of telomere lengths of specific chromosomal arms on the breast cancer risk is unknown.

Methods

We conducted a case-control study of breast cancer to examine the associations of the telomere length on chromosome 9 short arms (9p) and long arms (9q) with risk of breast cancer. Chromosome 9 arm-specific telomere lengths were measured by quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridization using cultured blood lymphocytes.

Results

Telomere length on chromosome 9p was significantly shorter in breast cancer patients than in control subjects (P < 0.001). Using the 50th percentile value in controls as a cu

SUBMITTER: Zheng YL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2718080 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature