TCGA Pan-Cancer Genomic Analysis of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) Related Genes

摘要: Telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) are used by cancer cells to avoid apoptosis, 85-90% reactivate telomerase, while 10-15% use the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Due anti-telomerase-based treatments, some tumors switch from a telomerase-dependent mechanism ALT; in fact, co-existence between both has been observed cancers. Although different elements ALT pathway uncovered, molecular still poorly understood. Therefore, with aim identify potential markers for study ALT, we combined silico approaches 411 telomere gene set. As consequence, conducted genomic analysis these genes 31 Pan-Cancer Atlas studies The Cancer Genome and found 325,936 alterations; which, identified 20 highly mutated studies. Finally, made protein-protein interaction network enrichment observe main pathways discuss their role ALT-related processes, like homologous recombination homology directed repair. Overall, due lack understanding cancers, proposed group genes, which after ex vivo validations, could represent new therapeutic ALT.