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Role of telomeres and telomeric repeat binding factors in oral cancer
Author(s) -
Sainger RacharendraSingh,
Telang Shaila D,
Shukla Shilin N,
Patel Prabhudas S
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1106-a
Subject(s) - telomerase , telomere , cancer , carcinogenesis , cancer research , biology , metastasis , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , genetics , gene
Telomeres are the extreme ends of eukaryotic chromosome comprising array of TTAGGG repeats and play a significant role in disease like ageing and cancer. Shortening of telomeres is an early event in during carcinogenesis, and signals activation of enzyme telomerase in the cancer cells to confer immortality. Present study was carried out in oral cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers in India. The study was carried out in 100 oral cancer patients. We used western blot method for the detection of TRF‐1 and TRF‐2 expression, Southern hybridization for telomere length changes and telomerase activation by telomeric repeat amplification protocol. Shortening of telomeres was seen in tumor tissues (p=0.001) and telomerase activation was observed in 75% malignant tissues. Telomerase activation appears to be a good marker to identify lymphnode metastasis and a poor indicator of prognosis. Patients with higher telomere length in malignant tissue as well as higher tumor to normal telomere length ratio showed significant association with poor disease free survival in patients. Over expression of TRF‐2 but not TRF‐1, was seen in the malignant tissues suggesting a possible role in telomere length regulation. Further, study suggests significant clinical usefulness of telomere length and telomerase activation in the oral cancer patients. The project was partially funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India, (project No. BT/PR3333/MED/14/446/2002).