title: Alternative lengthening of telomeres as a prognostic factor in malignant fibrous histiocytomas of bone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone is a rare primary malignant neoplasm. Recent studies indicate a positive correlation between the telomere maintenance mechanism and tumour aggressiveness in sarcomas. This study was undertaken to analyse the clinical significance of telomere factors in primary tumour samples from patients with MFHs of bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telomerase activity was measured in ten bone MFH specimens using a PCR-based TRAP assay. Telomere length was assessed using gel hybridisation. Quantitative detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) was performed by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telomerase activity and hTERT expression were detectable in 100% of tumour samples and 50% of tumour samples had evidence of engagement of the alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) mechanisms. ALT was a significant prognostic risk factor (p = 0.0316).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the presence of ALT telomere maintenance mechanisms indicates a poor prognosis for bone MFH patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. tomatsuo@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimose
authors.forename: Tadahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasunaga
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051677:Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase