@Article{Dülger2025,
journal="Polish Journal of Pathology",
issn="1233-9687",
volume="76",
number="1",
year="2025",
title="Investigation of clinicopathological and prognostic association of TERT promoter mutation in non-small cell lung cancer in a Turkish population",
abstract="Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterized by a complex and heterogeneous molecular basis. Telomerase reverse transcriptase ( TERT ) gene promoter mutations have been implicated in various cancer types. We aimed to investigate the status of  TERT  promoter region mutations in NSCLCs and determine associations of clinicopathological connections, driver mutations, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, and overall survival (OS) in the Turkish population.   The study included 186 patients diagnosed with NSCLC at a tertiary care center pathology department between 2017 and 2022.  TERT  promoter mutations were present in 2.7% and associated with old age ( p  = 0.015).   The levels of PD-L1 expression were higher in  TERT  mutants ( p  = 0.016).  TERT  mutants had shorter median OS than wild types ( p  = 0.006) and  TERT  mutation was an independent risk factor ( p  = 0.004).  TERT  and EGFR mutations may co-occur and be associated with shorter median OS in patients who continue to receive EGFR treatment ( p  < 0.001).    TERT  promoter mutations were associated with high PD-L1 expression and adverse prognosis in NSCLC. In addition, they may play a major role in patients' poor clinical outcomes during EGFR therapy. In conclusion,  TERT  may be a significant parameter for future follow-up and treatment selection of NSCLC.",
author="Dülger, Onur
and Yaylim, Ilhan
and Yilmaz, Ismail
and Sen, Fatma
and Öz, Büge",
pages="38--46",
doi="10.5114/pjp.2025.149380",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/pjp.2025.149380"
}