Telomere length shows no association with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status.
This study aimed to determine whether telomere length (TL) is a marker of cancer risk or genetic status amongst two cohorts of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and controls. The first group was a prospective set of 665 male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls (mean age 53 years), all healthy at time of enrollment and blood donation, 21 of whom have developed prostate cancer whilst on study. The second group consisted of 283 female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls (mean age 48 years), half of whom had been diagnosed with breast cancer prior to enrollment. TL was quantified by qPCR from DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes. Weighted and unweighted Cox regressions and linear regression analyses were used to assess whether TL was associated with BRCA1/2 mutation status or cancer risk. We found no evidence for association between developing cancer or being a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carrier and telomere length. It is the first study investigating TL in a cohort of genetically predisposed males and although TL and BRCA status was previously studied in females our results don't support the previous finding of association between hereditary breast cancer and shorter TL.
Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom ; Oncogentics, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Emma
E
Killick
Oncogentics, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Malgorzata
M
Tymrakiewicz
Unidad de Medicina Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
Clara
C
Cieza-Borrella
Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Paula
P
Smith
Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Deborah J
DJ
Thompson
Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Karen A
KA
Pooley
Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Doug F
DF
Easton
Cancer Genetics, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Elizabeth
E
Bancroft
Oncogentics, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Elizabeth
E
Page
Oncogentics, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Daniel
D
Leongamornlert
Oncogentics, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Zsofia
Z
Kote-Jarai
Oncogentics, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Rosalind A
RA
Eeles
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D016615:Telomere / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human