TERT mutation conferred increased mortality (HR 2.16 (1.20–3.88), p = 0.01) when detected in plasma (adjusted HR 2.16 (1.20–3.88), p = 0.010), but not in tumor (adjusted HR 1.11 (0.35–3.56), p = 0.860). Here, TERT is linked to neoplasm.