What Information Does Telomere Specific FISH Provide in Cancer?
Telomere Specific FISH provides several key pieces of information: - Telomere Length: It can measure the length of telomeres, which is often shorter in cancer cells compared to normal cells. - Telomere Integrity: It can detect abnormalities in telomere structure, such as telomere fusions, which are indicative of genomic instability. - Telomerase Activity: While it does not directly measure telomerase activity, telomere length as assessed by FISH can infer the presence of telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanisms in cancer cells.
