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Telomerase activity in phyllodes tumours
K Mokbel1, M Ghilchik, C N Parris
1Department of Surgery, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, Smithfield, UK.
Aims:
To investigate telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein that synthesizes telomeres. Recent evidence suggests that telomerase reactivation is associated with the acquisition of immortalization and malignancy.
Methods:
Using a sensitive PCR-based assay (the TRAP assay), we examined telomerase activity in two recurrent phyllodes tumours in two patients.
Results:
Both tumours expressed telomerase activity. Histological examination of the lesions, according to the criteria proposed by Azzopardi and Salvadori, revealed a malignant phyllodes tumour in one patient and a benign phyllodes tumour in the other patient.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that telomerase activity may have a potential role as a prognostic marker in predicting the clinical behaviour of these rare tumours.