The length of the telomere that protect the ends of chromosomes may predict cancer risk and be a potential target for future therapies, according to the results of a study presented by the American Cancer Research Association in Washington, USA. A scientific discovery could allow the early detection of certain cancers.
Telomeres, which are made up of repeated sequences of DNA, are shortened each time a cell divides. Depending on their size, they would be associated with an increased risk of Cancer.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in the United States and the University of Singapore conducted a study with 28,000 patients since 1993, divided into five groups according to the length of their telomeres. By the end of the study, 4,060 participants had developed cancer.
Extreme telomere sizes increase cancer risk
The results of the study showed that individuals whose chromosomes end with the longest telomeres had a 33% higher risk of cancer than people with the shortest telomeres.
This threat rises to 66% in the case of a lung cancer, at 55% for the Prostate cancer, at 39% for the breast cancer and 37% for colorectal cancer. These people have a 55% chance of having a stomach cancer, 117% have bladder cancer and 68% have leukemia.
The researchers also observed that participants in the group with the shortest telomere length had a 63% higher risk of stomach cancer, 72% of bladder cancer and 115% of leukemia than the group in the middle of the body. curve.
“Telomeres and cancer clearly have a complex relationship,” said Jian-Min Yuan, author of the study. “We hope that by understanding this relationship we can be able to predict who is most likely to develop certain cancers so that they can take preventative measures and be examined more often, and develop therapies to help our DNA. to maintain his telomeres at a healthy length ”.
Read also:
Brush up on tumors to better combat them
Soon a health test to detect cancer?
A simple breath test to detect cancer?
