Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
Published on: April 13, 2015
Defective chromosome segregation and telomere dysfunction in aggressive Wilms' tumors
Ylva Stewénius1, Yuesheng Jin, Ingrid Øra
1Department of Clinical Genetics, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. ylva.stewenius@med.lu.se
Purpose:
In many childhood neoplasms, prognostic subgroups have been defined based on specific chromosome changes. In Wilms' tumor (WT), such subclassification has been hampered by the diverse and relatively unspecific pattern of chromosomal imbalances present in these tumors. Unspecific patterns of cytogenetic imbalances in tumors are often caused by mitotic segregation errors due to short dysfunctional telomeres. As an alternative to cytogenetic classification, we therefore have evaluated whether the rate of telomere-dependent chromosomal instability could influence the clinical course in WT patients.
Experimental Design:
Telomere function and mitotic segregation errors were assessed in 12 cultured tumors and in tumor tissue sections from 41 WT patients.
Results:
Abnormal telomere shortening was found in cultured cells and in tissue sections from highly aggressive tumors. In vitro, dysfunctional telomeres were associated to specific cell division abnormalities, including anaphase bridges and multipolar mitoses. Assessment of mitotic figures in tissue sections revealed that anaphase bridges and multipolar mitoses were predominantly, but not exclusively, present in high-risk tumors and were predictors of poor event-free and overall survival.
Conclusions:
Telomere-dependent mitotic instability is present in a subgroup of WT, predominantly consisting of high-risk tumors.
Related Concept Videos
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
02:07Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...