Leucocyte telomere length, genetic variants at the <i>TERT</i> gene region and risk of pancreatic cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Telomere shortening occurs as an early event in pancreatic tumorigenesis, and genetic variants at the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene region have been associated with pancreatic cancer risk. However, it is unknown whether prediagnostic leucocyte telomere length is associated with subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer.

Design

We measured prediagnostic leucocyte telomere length in 386 pancreatic cancer cases and 896 matched controls from five prospective US cohorts. ORs and 95% CIs were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Matching factors included year of birth, cohort (which also matches on sex), smoking status, fasting status and month/year of blood collection. We additionally examined single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the <

SUBMITTER: Bao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5442267 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature