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Updated: Jun 17, 2025
12:08
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
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Comparing Length and Telomere Expression at Oral Precancerous and Cancerous Stages
Fahad Mansoor Samadi1, Shaista Suhail1, Manjari Sonam2
1Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Iranian Journal of Pathology
|August 9, 2024
Summary
Telomere length and telomerase activity differ significantly between oral precancerous lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This finding offers a potential biomarker for early OSCC detection and prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Telomeres are G-rich nucleotide repeats at chromosome ends, crucial for chromosomal stability.
- Telomere length and telomerase activity are implicated in cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in telomere length and telomerase activity in blood, saliva, and tissue samples.
- To compare these markers across various stages of oral precancerous and cancerous lesions.
Main Methods:
- Collected blood, saliva, and tissue samples from patients with oral precancerous and cancerous lesions.
- Performed DNA extraction and utilized the TRAP assay to measure telomere length and telomerase expression.
Main Results:
- Telomerase activity (TA) levels varied significantly between oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and precancerous patients (P=0.0000).
- Observed a statistically significant difference in TA levels between OSCC and precancerous samples.
Conclusions:
- Telomerase activity assessment is vital for understanding oral carcinoma behavior.
- Elevated telomerase expression and telomere length contribute to OSCC progression.
- This study introduces a potential diagnostic biomarker for early OSCC detection and prognosis.
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