Association between telomere length and mitochondrial copy number and cancer risk in humans: A meta-analysis on more than 300, 000 individuals. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giaccherini, Matteo; Gentiluomo, Manuel; Fornili, Marco; Lucenteforte, Ersilia; Baglietto, Laura; Campa, Daniele
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology. Volume 167(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: LTL leukocyte telomere length -- mtDNAcn mitochondrial copy number -- ROS reactive oxygen species -- PRS polygenic risk score -- SNP single nucleotide polymorphism -- GWAS genome wide association studies -- gdTL genetically determined telomere length -- MR mendelian randomization -- TERT telomerase reverse transcriptase -- OR odds ratio -- HR hazard ratio -- RR relative risk; Telomere length -- Mitochondrial copy number -- Single nucleotide polymorphism -- SNP -- Cancer susceptibility -- Meta-analysis; Oncology -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-8428

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: 73 studies on telomere length (TL) and cancer risk were evaluated. 39 studies on mitochondrial copy number variation (mtDNAcn) and cancer risk were evaluated. A meta-analysis on TL and mtDNAcn and cancer risk showed high heterogeneity between studies. The use of a polygenic risk score could be a valid instrument to assess the association between TL and cancer risk. Genetically determined longer telomere tends to be associated with increased cancer risk. Abstract: In the last decades the association of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial copy number (mtDNAcn) with cancer risk has been the focus of many reports, however the relation is not yet completely understood. A meta-analysis of 112 studies including 64, 184 cancer cases and 278, 641 controls that analysed LTL and mtDNAcn in relation to cancer risk has been conducted to further our understanding of the topic. Stratified analyses for tumor type were also performed. Overall, no association was observed for all cancer combined neither for LTL nor mtDNAcn. Significant associations were detected for these biomarkers and specific cancer type; however, a large degree of heterogeneity was present, even within the same tumor type. Alternatives approaches based on polymorphic variants, such as polygenic risk scores and mendelian randomization, could be adopted to unravel the causal correlation of telomere length and mitochondrial copy number with cancer risk.