Telomere Length Changes in Cancer: Insights on Carcinogenesis and Potential for Non-Invasive Diagnostic Strategies

Telomere dynamics play a crucial role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity; changes in telomere length may thus contribute to the development of various diseases including cancer. Understanding the role of telomeric DNA in carcinogenesis and detecting the presence of cell-free telomeric DNA (c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genes 2023-03, Vol.14 (3), p.715
Main Authors: Holesova, Zuzana, Krasnicanova, Lucia, Saade, Rami, Pös, Ondrej, Budis, Jaroslav, Gazdarica, Juraj, Repiska, Vanda, Szemes, Tomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Biopsy
Body fluids
Cancer
Cancer screening
Carcinogenesis
Carcinogenesis - genetics
Cardiovascular disease
Cell cycle
Cell division
Chromosomes
Diagnosis
DNA
DNA damage
DNA methylation
Genes
Genetic aspects
Genomes
Health aspects
Homeostasis
Humans
Invasiveness
Mutation
Neoplasms - diagnosis
Neoplasms - genetics
Oxidative stress
Proteins
Review
Telomerase
Telomere - genetics
Telomere Homeostasis - genetics
Telomeres
Yeast
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Summary:Telomere dynamics play a crucial role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity; changes in telomere length may thus contribute to the development of various diseases including cancer. Understanding the role of telomeric DNA in carcinogenesis and detecting the presence of cell-free telomeric DNA (cf-telDNA) in body fluids offer a potential biomarker for novel cancer screening and diagnostic strategies. Liquid biopsy is becoming increasingly popular due to its undeniable benefits over conventional invasive methods. However, the organization and function of cf-telDNA in the extracellular milieu are understudied. This paper provides a review based on 3,398,017 cancer patients, patients with other conditions, and control individuals with the aim to shed more light on the inconsistent nature of telomere lengthening/shortening in oncological contexts. To gain a better understanding of biological factors (e.g., telomerase activation, alternative lengthening of telomeres) affecting telomere homeostasis across different types of cancer, we summarize mechanisms responsible for telomere length maintenance. In conclusion, we compare tissue- and liquid biopsy-based approaches in cancer assessment and provide a brief outlook on the methodology used for telomere length evaluation, highlighting the advances of state-of-the-art approaches in the field.
ISSN:2073-4425
2073-4425
DOI:10.3390/genes14030715