Short telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes in head and neck cancer: Findings in a Brazilian cohort

Head Neck. 2019 Mar;41(3):672-677. doi: 10.1002/hed.25472. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Abstract

Background: Telomeres are specialized DNA structures that are critical to maintain cell homeostasis and to avoid genomic instability. Epidemiological studies have examined the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and risk of cancers, but the findings remain conflicting.

Methods: Mean LTL was measured by quantitative PCR in 97 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and 262 healthy controls. The association between LTL and patients' clinical status, such as smoke, alcoholism, and overall survival, were also evaluated.

Results: The age-adjusted LTL was significantly shorter in patients with HNC in comparison to healthy controls (P = .0003). Patients with shortest LTL had an increased risk to develop HNC (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was observed between LTL and patients' clinical features and personal habits.

Conclusions: Our data support the hypothesis that LTL is a risk factor for HNC. The use of LTL as a biomarker can help physicians to identify high-risk individuals for HNC.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; leukocytes; telomere length.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brazil
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate
  • Telomere Homeostasis
  • Telomere Shortening*