Alteration of telomerase activity in ovarian cancer after chemotherapy

To elucidate the relationship between telomerase activity and chemosensitivity in epithelial ovarian cancer, telomerase activity and telomere length (TRF) were examined before and after chemotherapy. Of 21 patients, 9 patients responded to chemotherapy and 12 did not. The positivity of telomerase activity did not significantly differ between responders and nonresponders. There were no differences in the mean length and the distribution of TRF between the two groups. Those distributions became narrow after chemotherapy in both groups. Seven nonresponders (58.3%) exhibited an increase in telomerase activity after chemotherapy but none of the responders showed an increase in activity. Telomerase activity may relate to chemosensitivity in epithelial ovarian cancer.