title: Telomere dynamics and cytogenetic changes in human hematologic neoplasias: a working hypothesis.
abstract: Chromosome termini, termed telomeres, provide important protection to avoid loss of master gene(s) that may exist at subtelomeric regions. Moreover, erosion of telomeres by cell division through end-replication problems resulted in telomeric-associated cytogenetic aberrations. To maintain a telomere length related to cell immortality, telomerase activity is upregulated in cancer cells, therefore, telomerase is considered to be a new marker of neoplasias. In this paper, we review and make suggestions regarding key aspects of telomere dynamics in both normal hematopoiesis and in malignant hematologic diseases.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohyashiki
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ohyashiki
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D019098:Telomerase