Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and telomerase activity: relationship to stage

Limited information is available on the correlation of telomerase activity and the clinical and pathological characteristics, in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) was used to measure telomerase activity in frozen RCC specimens from partial/radical nephrectomies performed between 1987 and 1991. Presence of tumor tissue was verified by a pathologist using hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. RNA was measured to ensure the presence of intact protein necessary for telomerase expression. Data on demographics, tumor type, and stage at presentation, local recurrence, distant metastasis, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) was collected, and telomerase activity was correlated with each of these variables. Forty-nine of 67 patients (73%) were telomerase positive (+ve). Gender and stage were the only variables that appeared to be associated with telomerase positivity. Tumors were telomerase +ve in 12/21 females (57 %) vs. 37/46 males (80%) (P = 0.07). Tumors were telomerase +ve in 85% of Stage IV, 76% of Stage III, and 70% of Stage I/II patients (P = 0.12). Five-year survival was 0% for Stage IV, 57% for Stage III, and 77% for Stage I/II patients (P < 0.001), DFS 54% for stage III and 84% for Stage I/II patients (P = 0.05). Telomerase activity, however, was not related to survival in either univariate or multivariate analysis. In patients with telomerase +ve tumors 5-year survival was 55%, and with telomerase -ve tumors 58% (P = 0.56). Stage was the only variable associated with OS or DFS in clear cell RCC patients. In patients with advanced disease, there is a high incidence of telomerase positivity was found, within this limited sample, however, no correlation with survival was found.