Telomere length, telomere‐related genes, and breast cancer risk: The breast cancer health disparities study. Issue 7 (30th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pellatt, Andrew J.; Wolff, Roger K.; Torres‐Mejia, Gabriela; John, Esther M.; Herrick, Jennifer S.; Lundgreen, Abbie; Baumgartner, Kathy B.; Giuliano, Anna R.; Hines, Lisa M.; Fejerman, Laura; Cawthon, Richard; Slattery, Martha L.
• Is Part Of: Genes, chromosomes & cancer. Volume 52:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 595
• Page End: 609
• Publication Date: 2013-04-30
• Subjects: Cancer -- Genetic aspects -- Periodicals; 616.994042
• DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-2257

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Telomeres are involved in maintaining genomic stability. Previous studies have linked both telomere length (TL) and telomere‐related genes with cancer. We evaluated associations between telomere‐related genes, TL, and breast cancer risk in an admixed population of US non‐Hispanic white (1, 481 cases, 1, 586 controls) and U.S. Hispanic and Mexican women (2, 111 cases, 2, 597 controls) from the Breast Cancer Health Disparities Study. TL was assessed in 1, 500 women based on their genetic ancestry. TL‐related genes assessed were <italic>MEN1, MRE11A, RECQL5, TEP1, TERC, TERF2, TERT, TNKS</italic>, and <italic>TNKS2</italic>. Longer TL was associated with increased breast cancer risk [odds ratio (OR) 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38, 2.55], with the highest risk (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.74, 5.67 p interaction 0.02) among women with high Indigenous American ancestry. Several TL‐related single nucleotide polymorphisms had modest association with breast cancer risk overall, including <italic>TEP1</italic> rs93886 (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70, 0.95); <italic>TERF2</italic> rs3785074 (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03, 1.24); <italic>TERT</italic> rs4246742 (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77, 0.93); <italic>TERT</italic> rs10069690 (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03, 1.24); <italic>TERT</italic> rs2242652 (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11, 2.04); and <italic>TNKS</italic> rs6990300 (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81, 0.97). Several differences in association were detected by hormone receptor status of tumors. Most notable were associations with <italic>TERT</italic> rs2736118 (OR<sub>adj</sub> 6.18, 95% CI 2.90, 13.19) with estrogen receptor negative/progesterone receptor positive (ER−/PR+) tumors and <italic>TERT</italic> rs2735940 (OR<sub>adj</sub> 0.73, 95% CI 0.59, 0.91) with ER−/PR− tumors. These data provide support for an association between TL and TL‐related genes and risk of breast cancer. The association may be modified by hormone receptor status and genetic ancestry. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>