Nevus size and number are associated with telomere length and represent potential markers of a decreased senescence in vivo

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nevus size and number are associated with telomere length and represent potential markers of a decreased senescence in vivo

AU - Bataille, Veronique

AU - Kato, Bernet S

AU - Falchi, Mario

AU - Gardner, Jeffrey

AU - Kimura, Masayuki

AU - Lens, Marko

AU - Perks, Ursula

AU - Valdes, Ana M

AU - Bennett, Dot C

AU - Aviv, Abraham

AU - Spector, Tim D

PY - 2007/7/1

Y1 - 2007/7/1

N2 - Nevus counts represent one of the strongest risk factors for melanoma. They appear in childhood and adolescence and involute from middle age onwards. Recent evidence has shown that nevus cells undergo oncogene-induced senescence involving the p16/retinoblastoma pathway. However, telomere length also influences senescence in proliferative somatic cells and varies between individuals. This study explores whether telomere length measured in white cells is associated with nevus count and size in 1,897 Caucasian women ages 18 to 79 years. Total body nevus counts were positively correlated with white cell telomere length (mean, 7.09 kbp; range, 5.09-9.37) after adjustment for age (P = 0.0001). Age-adjusted telomere length was also associated with nevus count for nevi above 5 mm in diameter (P = 0.04). Subjects in the top category for nevus count had an average age-adjusted telomere length 150 bp longer than those in the lowest category. The positive correlation between white cell telomere length and nevi number and size may reflect an increased replicative potential (reduced senescence) in individuals with longer telomeres, which may not be melanocyte specific. Understanding mechanisms influencing the induction and involution of nevi will not only help in understanding the pathophysiology of melanoma but should also shed light on the complex relationship between aging and cancer

AB - Nevus counts represent one of the strongest risk factors for melanoma. They appear in childhood and adolescence and involute from middle age onwards. Recent evidence has shown that nevus cells undergo oncogene-induced senescence involving the p16/retinoblastoma pathway. However, telomere length also influences senescence in proliferative somatic cells and varies between individuals. This study explores whether telomere length measured in white cells is associated with nevus count and size in 1,897 Caucasian women ages 18 to 79 years. Total body nevus counts were positively correlated with white cell telomere length (mean, 7.09 kbp; range, 5.09-9.37) after adjustment for age (P = 0.0001). Age-adjusted telomere length was also associated with nevus count for nevi above 5 mm in diameter (P = 0.04). Subjects in the top category for nevus count had an average age-adjusted telomere length 150 bp longer than those in the lowest category. The positive correlation between white cell telomere length and nevi number and size may reflect an increased replicative potential (reduced senescence) in individuals with longer telomeres, which may not be melanocyte specific. Understanding mechanisms influencing the induction and involution of nevi will not only help in understanding the pathophysiology of melanoma but should also shed light on the complex relationship between aging and cancer

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aging

KW - Biomarkers

KW - Disease Progression

KW - European Continental Ancestry Group

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Nevus, Pigmented

KW - Prognosis

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Telomere

U2 - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0152

DO - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0152

M3 - Article

C2 - 17627017

VL - 16

SP - 1499

EP - 1502

JO - Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

JF - Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

IS - 7

ER -