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Telomerase activity in patients with transitional cell carcinoma: a preliminary study
1Immunology Research Unit, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Cancer
|March 26, 1999
Summary
Telomerase activity is highly prevalent in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) tumors and urine cells, suggesting early activation during carcinogenesis. However, this activity did not correlate with tumor grade or stage.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Urology
Background:
- Telomere shortening limits normal cell replication, while immortal cells exhibit telomerase activity.
- Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) lacks robust diagnostic and prognostic markers.
- Telomerase activity is a hallmark of cellular immortality and cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between telomerase activity and the grade/stage of TCC.
- To assess telomerase activity as a potential biochemical marker for TCC.
- To evaluate telomerase expression in TCC tumor tissue, adjacent uroepithelium, and urine cells.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of telomerase activity in tumor biopsies, cup biopsies, and urine cells from 29 TCC patients.
- Histologic examination of biopsies to determine grade and stage.
- Comparison with control uroepithelial biopsies from non-TCC patients.
Main Results:
- 90% of TCC tumor biopsies showed telomerase activity.
- 69% of cup biopsies and 81% of urine cells from TCC patients exhibited telomerase activity.
- Telomerase activity was detected in 21% of control urine cells, significantly lower than in TCC patients.
Conclusions:
- Telomerase is highly active in TCC, indicating potential early activation in carcinogenesis.
- High incidence of telomerase activity in urine cells suggests its potential as a non-invasive marker.
- No correlation was found between telomerase activity and the histological grade or stage of TCC.