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Telomerase expression in uveal melanoma.
B Heine1, S E Coupland, S Kneiff
1Department of Pathology, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Free University, Berlin, Germany.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 3, 2000
Summary
Telomerase activity is upregulated in uveal melanoma tumors. This suggests telomerase plays a role in uveal melanoma development and progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Telomerase activity is typically repressed in normal somatic cells but reactivated in cancers.
- The role of telomerase in uveal melanoma development and progression has not been previously described.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate telomerase expression patterns and activity in uveal melanoma.
- To correlate telomerase activity with histological and immunohistological features of uveal melanoma.
Main Methods:
- Telomerase activity was assessed using a modified PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay in 14 uveal melanomas.
- Expression of the telomerase RNA component (hTR) was examined at the single-cell level using in situ hybridization in eight cases.
Main Results:
- Moderate telomerase activity was detected in all examined uveal melanomas.
- In situ hybridization showed moderate to high upregulation of hTR specifically in melanoma cells, not in surrounding reactive cells.
- No correlation was found between telomerase activity and tumor location, cell type, or growth fraction.
Conclusions:
- Telomerase activity is upregulated in uveal melanomas.
- hTR expression is localized to tumor cells, indicating a specific role in uveal melanoma.
- Strong telomerase expression was also observed in the germinative zone cells of the lens.