Short telomeres in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as a risk factor in lymphomagenesis

Objective Telomeres cap chromosomal ends and help to maintain chromosomal integrity. Telomere shortening may result in chromosomal instability and, ultimately, malignant transformation of cells. It has not been systematically studied whether patients with malignancy have shortened telomeres in their normal, nontransformed cells, which might point to a preexisting disposition for chromosomal instability. Methods We designed an (age-) matched pair analysis that compared telomere length in nonmalignant peripheral leukocytes from previously untreated patients who recently developed an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with leukocytes from healthy individuals. Results Telomere lengths in B and …