A pan-cancer landscape of telomeric content shows that RAD21 and HGF alterations are associated with longer telomeres.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer cells can proliferate indefinitely through telomere maintenance mechanisms. These mechanisms include telomerase-dependent elongation, mediated by TERT activation, and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), linked to loss of ATRX or DAXX.

Methods

We analyzed the telomeric content of 89,959 tumor samples within the Foundation Medicine dataset and investigated the genomic determinants of high telomeric content, linking them to clinical outcomes, when available.

Results

Telomeric content varied widely by disease type with leiomyosarcoma having the highest and Merkel cell carcinoma having the lowest telomeric content. In agreement with previous studies, telomeric content was significantly higher in samples with alterations in TERC, ATRX, and DAXX. We

SUBMITTER: Sharaf R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8883689 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature