Alternative methods of extracting telomerase activity from human tumor samples

Telomerase activity is present in approximately 85% of malignant cancers and >30% of premalignant lesions. Extraction of telomerase from solid tumors and tissues remains difficult and inconvenient due to the presence of PCR inhibitors. Here we show that PCR inhibitors are easily removed during an initial extraction, allowing detection of telomerase activity in subsequent extractions from the same sample. In addition, telomerase activity may be enriched and detected from very small samples in a large background by utilizing a biotin/strept-avidin coated, magnetic bead retrieval assay. Our results provide alternative methods for telomerase extraction from solid tumors and small samples that are more convenient and accurate.