In a multivariate analysis adjusted for gender, age and clinical variables it emerged that short telomeres in SM and high TERT levels in tumor tissue were significantly associated with worse treatment response (OR = 4.19, 95% CI: 1.01–17.47, P = 0.049 and OR = 6.26, 95% CI: 1.10–35.51, P = 0.038; respectively). This evidence concerns the gene TERT and neoplasm.