Telomeres, the ends of the chromosomes, play an important role in carcinogenesis. Telomere length of cancer and adjected non-cancer tissue was analysed by southern blot in 57 patients with R0-resected colorectal carcinoma. Only in non-cancer tissue telomere length decreased significantly with age. In cancer tissue telomeres were significantly shorter than in non-cancer tissue. Telomere length in cancer tissue was significantly correlated with tumor stage, with longer telomeres in advanced tumors. The overall survival was significantly correlated to telomere length in cancer. The telomere length ratio of cancer to non-cancer tissue was an independent prognostic factor.
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Telomeres, the ends of the chromosomes, play an important role in carcinogenesis. Telomere length of cancer and adjected non-cancer tissue was analysed by southern blot in 57 patients with R0-resected colorectal carcinoma. Only in non-cancer tissue telomere length decreased significantly with age. In cancer tissue telomeres were significantly shorter than in non-cancer tissue. Telomere length in cancer tissue was significantly correlated with tumor stage, with longer telomeres in advanced tumors...
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