TERC polymorphisms are associated both with susceptibility to colorectal cancer and with longer telomeres.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Shorter telomeres have been associated with increased risk of malignancy, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Telomere length is heritable and may be an intermediate phenotype linked to genetic susceptibility to CRC.

Methods

In a large sample, the study investigated whether candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 'telomere biology' genes were associated with telomere length in leucocytes. SNP associated with an increased risk of CRC were searched for separately.

Results

Carriers of the common allele at SNP rs10936599, near the telomerase RNA component (TERC) locus, had significantly longer telomeres. It was independently found that the same rs10936599 allele was associated with increased risk of both CRC and colorectal adenomas. Neither t

SUBMITTER: Jones AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245900 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature