Telomere length recovery: A strong predictor of overall survival in acute promyelocytic leukemia Journal Article


Authors: Baljevic, M.; Dumitriu, B.; Lee, J. W.; Paietta, E. M.; Wiernik, P. H.; Racevskis, J.; Chen, C.; Stein, E. M.; Gallagher, R. E.; Rowe, J. M.; Appelbaum, F. R.; Powell, B. L.; Larson, R. A.; Coutré, S. E.; Lancet, J.; Litzow, M. R.; Luger, S. M.; Young, N. S.; Tallman, M. S.
Article Title: Telomere length recovery: A strong predictor of overall survival in acute promyelocytic leukemia
Abstract: Telomeres are the capping ends of chromosomes that protect the loss of genetic material and prevent chromosomal instability. In human tissue-specific stem/progenitor cells, telomere length (TL) is maintained by the telomerase complex, which consists of a reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit (TERT) and an RNA template (TERC). Very short telomeres and loss-of-function mutations in the TERT and TERC genes have been reported in acute myeloid leukemia, but the role of telomeres in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has not been well established. We report the results for a large cohort of 187 PML/RARα-positive APL patients. No germline mutations in the TERT or TERC genes were identified. Codon 279 and 1062 TERT polymorphisms were present at a frequency similar to that in the general population. TL measured in blood or marrow mononuclear cells at diagnosis was significantly shorter in the APL patients than in healthy volunteers, and shorter telomeres at diagnosis were significantly associated with high-risk disease. For patients who achieved complete remission, the median increase in TL from diagnosis to remission (delta TL) was 2.0 kilobase (kb), and we found delta TL to be the most powerful predictor of overall survival when compared with well-established risk factors for poor outcomes in APL. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Keywords: acute promyelocytic leukemia; telomere length; disease risk factors
Journal Title: Acta Haematologica
Volume: 136
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0001-5792
Publisher: S. Karger AG  
Date Published: 2016-11-01
Start Page: 210
End Page: 218
Language: English
DOI: 10.1159/000448160
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 27632567
PMCID: PMC5198772
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 6 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Eytan Moshe Stein
    342 Stein
  2. Martin Stuart Tallman
    649 Tallman