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Telomerase activity as a potential marker in preneoplastic bladder lesions.
F Lancelin1, M Anidjar, J M Villette
1Laboratoire de Biologie Hormonale, Département d'Urologie, Hôpital St Louis, Paris, France.
BJU International
|February 26, 2000
Summary
Telomerase activity, crucial for cell immortalization, is detectable in most tumors but not normal tissues. This study suggests telomerase reactivation is an early event in bladder cancer, aiding diagnosis and prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Telomerase is involved in cell immortalization.
- Telomerase is typically found in malignant tumors but not normal somatic tissues.
- Assessing telomerase activity can aid in cancer diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate telomerase activity as a diagnostic marker for bladder cancer.
- To investigate the role of telomerase in early bladder carcinogenesis.
- To assess telomerase activity in preneoplastic and normal bladder tissues.
Main Methods:
- Telomerase activity was measured using telomeric repeat amplification protocol-polymerase chain reaction (TRAP-PCR) and a telomerase PCR-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
- Malignant and inflammatory bladder lesions, along with adjacent normal tissues from 18 patients, were analyzed.
- Patients included 14 with urothelial carcinoma and 4 with inflammatory bladder lesions.
Main Results:
- Telomerase activity was detected in 11 of 14 tumor samples.
- Telomerase was also found in 4 of 14 apparently normal tissues adjacent to tumors, particularly near high-grade tumors.
- Two preneoplastic lesions (cystitis glandularis and severe dysplasia) showed telomerase activity.
Conclusions:
- Reactivation of telomerase appears to be an early event in bladder cancer development.
- Telomerase activity may serve as an indicator of malignant potential in preneoplastic lesions.
- Telomerase activity could be a useful prognostic marker for bladder tumor recurrence or progression.