Short telomeres and chromosome instability prior to histologic malignant progression and cytogenetic aneuploidy in papillary urothelial neoplasms

• Published in: Urologic oncology 2014-02, Vol.32 (2), p.135-145
• Main Authors: Izumiyama-Shimomura, Naotaka, M.D, Nakamura, Ken-ichi, Ph.D, Aida, Junko, D.D.S., Ph.D, Ishikawa, Naoshi, M.D, Kuroiwa, Mie, M.D, Hiraishi, Naoki, Fujiwara, Mutsunori, M.D, Ishikawa, Yuichi, M.D, Inoshita, Naoko, M.D, Yonese, Junji, M.D, Matsuura, Masaaki, Ph.D, Poon, Steven S.S., Ph.D, Arai, Tomio, M.D, Takubo, Kaiyo, M.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anaphase - genetics; Anaphase bridge; Aneuploidy; Carcinoma, Papillary - genetics; Carcinoma, Papillary - pathology; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - pathology; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics; Chromosomal Instability; Cytogenetic Analysis; Disease Progression; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Karyotype; Karyotype analysis; Middle Aged; PUNLMP; Q-FISH; Spectral Karyotyping; Telomere; Telomere Shortening; Urologic Neoplasms - genetics; Urologic Neoplasms - pathology; Urology; Urothelial carcinoma
• ISSN: 1078-1439; 1873-2496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2012.12.005

Abstract Purpose Evaluation of the relationships existing among 3 histologic types of urothelial tumors, chromosomal instability, and telomere length. Patients and methods We examined 37 consecutive cases of papillary urothelial neoplasm, from which 26 (70.3%) were suitable for karyotype analysis, comprising 7 papillary urothelial neoplasms of low malignant potential (PUNLMPs), 10 low-grade papillary urothelial carcinomas (PUCs), and 9 high-grade PUCs. We performed karyotype and anaphase bridge analyses, and measured telomere lengths by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results PUNLMPs were always diploid and had anaphase bridges. Low-grade PUCs showed diploidy ( n = 2), hypoploidy ( n = 4) and polyploidy ( n = 4), and high-grade PUCs showed diploidy ( n = 1) and polyploidy ( n = 8); both had anaphase bridges. The incidence of anaphase bridges did not differ significantly between PUNLMPs and high-grade PUCs ( P = 0.105). The telomere lengths of PUNLMP, low-grade PUC, and high-grade PUC, expressed as mean telomere fluorescence units (TFU)±SD, were 7906±3197, 4893±1567, and 3299±1406, respectively. The differences among the 3 groups were significant. However, 42.9% of the PUNLMPs had shorter telomeres than the mean value for low-grade PUCs, and 30.0% of the low-grade PUCs had shorter telomeres than those for high-grade PUCs. There was an inverse correlation between telomere length and the incidence of anaphase bridges. Conclusions PUNLMP appears to progress to low-grade PUC and high-grade PUC in association with telomere shortening and chromosomal instability. Our data suggest that critically shortened telomeres cause chromosomal instability during progression of papillary urothelial neoplasms.