Aims: Neoplastic progression in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is accompanied by genetic abnormalities
and telomere shortening is a candidate for producing such genomic instability. Our
overall goal is to examine if telomere shortening can distinguish UC patients at greatest
risk of dysplasia/Colorectal Cancer (CRC). We hypothesize that continuous telomere
length shortening may correlate with UC progression.
Methods: Telomere length measurements were assessed using Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ
Hybridisation (Q-FISH) and confocal microscopy in longitudinal biopsies from 16 UC
patients without dysplasia/CRC and 14 UC patients who progressed to dysplasia and
5 to CRC. Approximately 8 images were analysed for each case.
Results: There was no statistical difference in average telomere lengths comparing flat versus
polyploid dysplasia cases. Telomere lengths in dysplasia and cancer lesions did not
show significant evidence of telomere shortening. 2 of 14 dysplasia patients did however
show telomere shortening in previous surveillance biopsies prior to diagnosis of dysplasia.
3 of 16 UC patients without dysplasia or CRC displayed a statistically significant
decline in telomere lengths in longitudinal follow up biopsies.
Conclusions: Telomere length measurements may be used as a useful screening tool in identifying
those patients at high risk of CRC development and may require more extensive surveillance.
