3 replies to this topic

[smithx]

A large-scale genetic study of the links between telomere length and risk for five common cancers finds that long telomeres are associated with an increased risk of lung adenocarcinoma. No significant associations between telomere length and other cancer types or subtypes were observed. The study, led by scientists from the University of Chicago, uses a novel method to measure genetic predisposition for telomere length, rather than physiological measures which are confounded by factors such as age and lifestyle. The findings are published in Human Molecular Genetics on July 29, 2015.
 
http://www.healthcan...ancer-risk.html
 
Free full-text of the article online:
http://hmg.oxfordjou...hmg.ddv252.full
 

[smithx]

One thing to note: this study did not actually check telomere length. It found an association between genetic variants (SNPs) which are associated with longer telomeres and with this form of lung cancer.

 

[Daniel Cooper]

It seems that saying that telomeres increase the chances of lung adenocarcinoma is jumping to a conclusion.  A equally valid interpretation would be that the genes responsible for increased telomere length themselves increase the chances of this cancer apart from the longer telomere lengths.   We really just don't know.

 

 

[alc]

For recent years studies point to a more sophisticated relationship telomere/telomerase and cancers.

 

Just look at the recent study:

 

"Defective telomeres are now being linked to dozens of diseases, including many types of cancer"

 

http://www.eurekaler...i-dta071515.php

 

also look at the CNIO work on Telomeres + Telomerase Group

 

https://www.cnio.es/...?grupo=50004259

 

They do real work in this field, as opposed to a lot of "talkers" that distribute in left and right the "truth".

 

Also look at Michael Fossel:

 

http://www.michaelfossel.com/

 

and the work that BioViva  is trying to put in real world.

 

http://www.bioviva-science.com