title: The telomere proteins in tumorigenesis and clinical outcomes of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The "Hallmarks of Cancer" describe the ways by which cancer cells bypass homeostasis. Escape from replicative senescence is one of the earliest features of cancer cells. Maintenance of the telomeres through reactivation of telomerase was initially associated with replicative immortality in various cancers. The shelterin complex, a telomeric hexaprotein association, plays a key role in telomere maintenance and in the hallmarks of cancer. Some shelterin proteins are overexpressed in diverse cancers and can promote tumorigenesis in animal models. Shelterin can also have an impact on tumor size, tumor growth and resistance to treatment. Studies into the expression level of shelterin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) report contradictory results. Moreover, the exact role of these proteins in OSCC tumorigenesis remains uncertain. In this review, we examined the data linking telomeres and hallmarks of OSCC. Furthermore, we examined the literature concerning telomeres and the clinical outcome of OSCC. Finally, we propose a model encompassing the role of shelterin proteins in oral tumorigenesis and treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice CNRS UMR 7284/INSERM U 1081, France; University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice University Hospital, Odontology Department, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benhamou
authors.affiliation: Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Biomedical Department, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000 Monaco, Monaco.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Picco
authors.affiliation: University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice CNRS UMR 7284/INSERM U 1081, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagès
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Oral cancer; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Shelterin; Telomerase; Telomeres; Tumorigenesis