biostudies-literatureUnknown8(44)Gay-Bellile MUpregulation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (<i>TERT</i>) gene in human cancers leads to telomerase activation, which contributes to the growth advantage and survival of tumor cells. Molecular mechanisms of <i>TERT</i> upregulation are complex, tumor-specific and can be clinically relevant. To investigate these mechanisms in breast cancer, we sequenced the <i>TERT</i> promoter, evaluated <i>TERT</i> copy number changes and assessed the expression of the <i>MYC</i> oncogene, a known transcriptional <i>TERT</i> regulator, in two breast cancer cohorts comprising a total of 122 patients. No activating <i>TERT</i> promoter mutations were found, suggesting that this mutational mechanism is not likely to be involved in <i>TERT</i> upregulation in breast cancer. The T349C promoter polymorOncotarget77540-77551https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5652798biostudies-literature<i>TERT</i> promoter status and gene copy number gains: effect on <i>TERT</i> expression and association with prognosis in breast cancer.PMC5652798Bignon YJCombes PTchirkov ACayre AAbrial CVago PDauplat MMPrivat MEymard-Pierre EPenault-Llorca FGay-Bellile MKwiatkowski FMouret-Reynier MAVeronese Lfalse<i>TERT</i> promoter status and gene copy number gains: effect on <i>TERT</i> expression and association with prognosis in breast cancer.Upregulation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (<i>TERT</i>) gene in human cancers leads to telomerase activation, which contributes to the growth advantage and survival of tumor cells. Molecular mechanisms of <i>TERT</i> upregulation are complex, tumor-specific and can be clinically relevant. To investigate these mechanisms in breast cancer, we sequenced the <i>TERT</i> promoter, evaluated <i>TERT</i> copy number changes and assessed the expression of the <i>MYC</i> oncogene, a known transcriptional <i>TERT</i> regulator, in two breast cancer cohorts comprising a total of 122 patients. No activating <i>TERT</i> promoter mutations were found, suggesting that this mutational mechanism is not likely to be involved in <i>TERT</i> upregulation in breast cancer. The T349C promoter polymor2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Sep2026-04-29T09:53:45.003Z2019-03-27T02:59:41ZS-EPMC56527982910040710.18632/oncotarget.20560