Telomere length is a prognostic biomarker in elderly advanced ovarian cancer patients: a multicenter

Age is an imprecise measure of an individual’s biological function and health status. During normal aging, telomeres; which are tandem hexamer DNA repeats acting as protective cap at the end of chromosomes, shorten after each cell division and eventually senesce. In recent studies, telomere length has been postulated as a biomarker for several age-related diseases including cancers.

The French National Group of Investigators for the Study of Ovarian and Breast Cancer (GINECO) established two research studies focussing on the treatment of ovarian cancer in elderly women. The incidence of ovarian cancer is at its maximal in elderly patients, aged 70-80, and the survival rate is around 30% (as per statistical data-SEER18, 2007-2013). An ancillary study was then conducted in this population to identify telomere length as a prognostic factor to predict patient outcomes with respect to treatment.

Although this study could not find any significant association, they show that shorter telomere length could be a potential risk factor of premature death in advanced ovarian cancer patients than those patients who have longer telomeres and have completed treatment. This study is the first of its kind to show telomere length as an independent risk factor. Also, such studies could bring the possibility of future work aimed at identifying telomere biomarkers that can improve cancer treatment.

Original article: Falandry et al (2015) Aging (Albany NY). 2015 Dec;7(12):1066-76.