Telomere length and telomerase activity in extra-abdominal desmoid tumors

The telomere biology of extra-abdominal desmoids was investigated. In 12 specimens, telomere length was assessed by Southern-blot analysis and telomerase activity was measured using a PCR-based TRAP assay. There was a significant correlation between telomere length and tumor size, with telomeres being shorter with increasing tumor size (p = 0.049), and between telomere length and PCNA-positive cell rate, with telomere shortening with increased positive cell rate (p = 0.017). There was a significant correlation between telomerase activity and age at surgery, with increased activity with younger age (p = 0.015). Telomere length increased with recurrence, but telomerase activity decreased, and rate of PCNA-positive cells became lower, whenever the tumors were recurrent. Decreasing telomere length correlated with tumor size, probably due to increased duration of proliferation in the tumor, and tumor aggressiveness. Recurrent case results may be due to a lower rate of cell division and the presence of telomerase activity.