Different Role of TRF1 and TRF2 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers

Sep 21, 2026

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TRF1, TRF2, and TERT are telomere-associated factors regulating telomere length, and genetic alterations may contribute to cancer pathogenesis, yet their relationships in lung cancer remain incompletely defined. This study evaluated the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of TRF1, TRF2, and TERT mRNA expression in 141 non-small cell lung cancer patients, with validation using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). TRF1 predicted improved squamous cell carcinoma prognosis, while TRF2 related to poorer adenocarcinoma survival, with TCGA supporting TRF1 findings. Results suggest TRF1 as a potential prognostic marker, particularly in SCC.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Telomeres and telomere-associated proteins

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publication Information

OncoTargets and Therapy Dovepress open access to scientific and medical research Open Access Full Text Article ORIGINAL RESEARCH Different Role of TRF1 and TRF2 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers Mincheol Chae 1 , *, Jae-Ho Lee 2 , *, Jong Ho Park2 , Dong Yoon Keum 1 , Hanna Jung 3 , Youngok Lee 3 , Deok Heon Lee 3 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea; 2Department of Anatomy, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea; 3Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Jung-gu, 41944, Korea *These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence: Deok Heon Lee, Tel +82-53-200-5665, Fax +82-53-426-4765, Email [ldhms@knu.ac.kr](ldhms@knu.ac.kr) | Background: TRF1, TRF2, and TERT (Telomerase reverse transcriptase) are telomere-associated factors that regulate telomere length. Genetic changes in these genes may be associated with cancer pathogenesis; however, this relationship has not yet been comprehensively elucidated in lung cancer.
Aim: : Exploring the clinicopathologic and prognostic values of TRF1, TRF2, and TERT mRNA expression in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) .
Methods: : The clinical significance of TRF1, TRF2, and TERT expression in 141 patients with NSCLC was investigated. Additionally, these findings were supported by the open big data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) .
Results: : TRF1 and TRF2 expression levels tended to be associated with smoking, and TERT expression was positively correlated with age. The survival analysis showed that TRF1 expression predicted a better prognosis for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), whereas TRF2 expression was associated with a shorter survival in adenocarcinoma. TCGA data also showed a better prognosis for SCC with TRF1 expression. However, the TRF2 results were not in agreement with our data.
Conclusions: : We present the clinical and prognostic values of TRF1, TRF2, and TERT expression in NSCLC tissues and TCGA. Our findings suggest that TRF1 expression is a possible prognostic marker for NSCLC, particularly SCC.
Keywords: TRF1, TRF2, TERT, telomere, lung cancer | | --- | | Background
Telomeres, comprised of TTAGGG repeat sequences, are nucleoprotein complexes that cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes.1 Telomeres in normal somatic cells are shortened by approximately 0–200 base pairs at every cell division and have a critical length at which replicative senescence or apoptosis is initiated.2,3 Therefore, the regulation of telomeres within an optimal length is essential for cell survival.1–3 In cancer cells, preneoplastic or early stage of cancer cell suffer persistent telomere shortening leading to senescence, and then, this status is counteracted by the reverse transcriptase telomerase, whereas the remaining cells maintain telomere length via an alternative lengthening mechanism.4,5 TRF1, TRF2, and TERT (Telomerase reverse transcriptase) are telomere-associated proteins that are part of the telomere structure and play essential roles in controlling telomere length.6–8 TRF1 is a suppressor of telomere elongation.6 TRF1 and TRF2 bind specifically to double-stranded TTAGGG repeats in the telomere. TRF2 is also a negative regulator of telomere length.9 Therefore, overexpression ofTRF2 results in progressive shortening of telomere length, similar to TRF1 overexpression. TERT is a ribonucleoprotein polymerase that maintains the telomere ends.10 Its high expression sustains telomere length and genomic stability, thereby allowing cancer cells to divide continuously and preventing senescence or apoptosis.11, 12 To clarify the role of telomere regulation in cancer, mRNA expressions ofTRF1, TRF2, and TERT should be comprehensively studied. | Received: 29 February 2024 Accepted: 25 May 2024 Published: 4 June 2024 On

FAQs

What are TRF1, TRF2, and TERT, and why are they important in lung cancer?

They are telomere-associated factors involved in regulating telomere length and maintaining telomere ends. Because telomere dysregulation can influence cancer behavior, their expression may help explain lung cancer pathogenesis and prognosis.

How was the study designed to evaluate TRF1, TRF2, and TERT?

The clinical significance of TRF1, TRF2, and TERT expression was investigated in 141 non-small cell lung cancer patients. Findings were also supported using open big data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

What prognostic relationships were observed for TRF1 and TRF2 in different NSCLC histologies?

TRF1 expression predicted a better prognosis for squamous cell carcinoma, while TRF2 expression was associated with a shorter survival in adenocarcinoma. TCGA data also showed better SCC prognosis with TRF1 expression.

Which gene expression is suggested as a potential prognostic marker in NSCLC?

The findings suggest that TRF1 expression may serve as a possible prognostic marker for NSCLC, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana