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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
08:34
Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
Published on: April 13, 2015
Telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA expression and telomerase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma
1Center for Molecular Biology and Cytogenetics, SRL, Inc., Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of Gastroenterology
|April 16, 1999
Summary
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), correlating with telomerase activity. This suggests hTERT mRNA is a potential biomarker for HCC diagnosis and progression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the catalytic subunit of human telomerase.
- Telomerase activity is implicated in cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical significance of hTERT mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- To clarify the relationship between telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA expression in HCC tissues.
Main Methods:
- Detection of hTERT mRNA expression in HCC and non-HCC tissues.
- Measurement of telomerase activity in the same tissues.
- Correlation analysis between hTERT mRNA levels and telomerase activity.
Main Results:
- hTERT mRNA was detected in 89.47% of HCC tissues and 21.05% of noncancerous tissues.
- Telomerase activity showed a similar detection rate (89.47% in tumors, 21.05% in non-tumors).
- A strong correlation was observed between hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity.
Conclusions:
- hTERT mRNA expression is a reliable indicator of telomerase activity in HCC.
- hTERT mRNA serves as a potential diagnostic biomarker for HCC.
- Positive hTERT mRNA in noncancerous liver tissue may indicate a risk for HCC development, especially in chronic liver diseases.
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