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Alterations of telomere length in human brain tumors

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Abstract

Telomeres at the ends of human chromosomes consist of tandem hexametric (TTAGGG)n repeats, which protect them from degradation. At each cycle of cell division, most normal somatic cells lose approximately 50–100 bp of the terminal telomeric repeat DNA. Precise prediction of growth and estimation of the malignant potential of brain tumors require additional markers. DNA extraction was performed from the 51 frozen tissues, and a non-radioactive chemiluminescent assay was used for Southern blotting. One sample t-test shows highly significant difference in telomere length in meningioma and astrocytoma with normal range. According to our results, higher grades of meningioma and astrocytoma tumors show more heterogeneity in telomere length, and also it seems shortening process of telomeres is an early event in brain tumors.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Saeed Talebi, Mr. Abouzar Rejvani for performing the procedure by imaging system and X-ray and Mr. Mohammad Nasrollahi for helping to collect the samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Majid Kheirollahi & Parvin Mehdipour

  2. Department of Surgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Masoud Mehrazin

  3. Department of Pathology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Naser Kamalian

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  1. Majid Kheirollahi
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  2. Masoud Mehrazin
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  3. Naser Kamalian
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  4. Parvin Mehdipour
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Correspondence to Parvin Mehdipour.

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Kheirollahi, M., Mehrazin, M., Kamalian, N. et al. Alterations of telomere length in human brain tumors. Med Oncol 28, 864–870 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-010-9506-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-010-9506-3

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