Telomerase activity plays a crucial role in cancer development and progression. Thus, telomerase activation through the interplay of mutations and epigenetic alterations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter may provide further insight into bladder cancer induction and progression.
In this study 100 bladder tumour tissues were selected, and four molecular signatures were analysed: THOR methylation status, TERT promotor mutation, telomere length, and TERT expression.
In our study, 88% of bladder cancer patients had an hypermethylation of the THOR region and 60% had mutations in the TERT promoter region. TERT promoter methylation was observed in all stages and grades of bladder cancer. While, TERT promoter mutations were detected in advanced stages and grades. In our cohort, high levels of TERT expression and long telomeres have been found in noninvasive cases of bladder cancer, with a significant association between TERT expression and Telomere length. Interestingly, patients with low TERT expression and cases with long telomeres had significantly longer Disease-free survival and overall survival.
The methylation and mutations occurring in the TERT promoter are implicated in bladder carcinogenesis, offering added prognostic and supplying novel insight into telomere biology in cancer.
Urologic oncology. 2024 Aug 14 [Epub ahead of print]
Meryem El Azzouzi, Hajar El Ahanidi, Ilias Hassan, Mohammed Tetou, Ahmed Ameur, Mounia Bensaid, Abderrahmane Al Bouzidi, Mohamed Oukabli, Chaimae Hafidi Alaoui, Boutaina Addoum, Imane Chaoui, Laila Benbacer, Mohammed El Mzibri, Mohammed Attaleb
Biology and Medical Research Unit, CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco; Rabat Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco., Biology and Medical Research Unit, CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco; Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland., Rabat Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco; Department of Urology, Military Hospital Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco., Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, Military Hospital Mohamed V, Rabat, Morocco; Royal School of Military Health Service, Rabat, Morocco., Rabat Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco., Rabat Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco; Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, Military Hospital Mohamed V, Rabat, Morocco., Biology and Medical Research Unit, CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco., Biology and Medical Research Unit, CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco., Biology and Medical Research Unit, CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: .