Are short telomeres hallmarks of cancer recurrence?

Abstract

Exposure to radiation and some chemotherapeutic agents is associated with an increased risk of developing second cancers. Short telomeres are almost universally associated with malignant cancer progression. An unanswered question is whether inherited short telomeres or therapy-related telomere shortening is a biomarker of the development of second malignant neoplasms. © 2014 American Association for Cancer Research.