ArticleCancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology2025
The Causal Relationship between Telomere Length and Cancer Risk: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization.
Article in Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- How telomere attrition protects against cancer.Nature reviews. Genetics · 2026Review
- Leukocyte Telomere Length and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Genetic Determinants of Telomere Length and Their Role in Human Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Underrepresented Populations' Perspectives.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Telomere Length Abnormality: Investigating Approaches and Correlations with Cancer, Bone Marrow Failure and Hematological Malignancies.Biomedicines · 2025Review
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTelomere length (TL) shortens with age and is associated with an increased risk of numerous chronic diseases. However, the causal direction of the association between TL and cancer risk remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the causal impact of TL on cancer risk using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
methodsGenome-wide association studies from Singapore and China data, the Korean Cancer Prevention Study II (KCPS-II), the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study, and the Biobank of Japan were utilized. A two-sample MR study was performed using summary-level genome-wide association study data from individuals of East Asian ancestry. SNPs associated with TL were used as instrumental variables.
resultsLonger TL per 1-SD increase due to germline genetic variants was associated with a higher risk of site-specific cancer. In the KCPS-II and Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study, the strongest association was observed with thyroid cancer {OR, 2.49 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.79-3.47] and 2.27 (1.49-3.46)}, followed by lung cancer [OR, 2.19 (95% CI, 1.60-3.08) and 1.45 (1.12-1.87)]. Similar results were observed in the Biobank of Japan, with OR, 2.92 (95% CI, 1.75-4.88) for thyroid cancer and 2.04 (1.41-2.94) for lung cancer. In histologic subgroup analysis of KCPS-II, a significant relationship was found with lung adenocarcinoma [OR, 2.26 (95% CI, 1.55-3.31)] but not with lung squamous cell carcinoma (1.21, 0.47-3.06). After removing outlier SNPs in the radial MR analysis, significant associations were identified for both lung adenocarcinoma [OR, 1.88 (95% CI, 1.25-2.82)] and lung squamous cell carcinoma (2.29, 1.05-4.98).
conclusionsOur findings suggest that longer TL increases the risk of various cancers in East Asian populations. IMPACT: Genetically determined longer TL may contribute to a risk of certain cancers.
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