Telomere length is shorter in affected members of families with familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer.

Background: The theory that short telomere length and genetic defects in maintaining telomere length are associated with familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) is controversial. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether telomere length and genes involved in maintaining telomere length are altered in FNMTC.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 44 members (13 affected and 31 unaffected) of six families with FNMTC and from 60 controls.