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Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
Does telomerase activity add to the value of fine needle aspirations in evaluating thyroid nodules?
J Sebesta1, T Brown, W Williard
1Department of General Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431-5055, USA.
Background:
Telomerase replaces DNA sequences that are lost with cell division. Increased activity has been documented in malignant cells. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) has a 90% sensitivity for diagnosis of papillary carcinomas, but a specificity of 52%. This often leads to unnecessary surgery.
Methods:
Telomeric repeat amplification protocol assays were performed on FNA specimens of thyroid nodules in 19 patients. These results were compared with the surgical pathology using chi-square analysis.
Results:
There were 5 malignant and 14 benign nodules. Telomerase activity was found in 3 of 5 malignant (60%) and 9 of 14 benign (64%): sensitivity was 60%, specificity was 36%.
Conclusion:
Telomerase assays did not add any additional information to FNA alone. Inflammatory changes associated with benign and malignant lesions can possess telomerase activity independent of the malignant state.
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