Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
10:14
Telomerase Activity in the Various Regions of Mouse Brain: Non-Radioactive Telomerase Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) Assay
Published on: September 2, 2014
Telomerase activity in head and neck cancer
Zuzana Kunická1, Igor Mucha, Jirí Fajkus
1Department of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
Anticancer Research
|November 27, 2008
Summary
Telomerase activity is a potential biomarker for head and neck cancer, correlating with tumor grade and prognosis. Higher activity indicates poorer differentiation and worse outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Telomerase activity is linked to various cancers, including head and neck cancer.
- Investigated telomerase activity as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for head and neck cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate telomerase activity as a marker for head and neck cancer.
- To compare telomerase activity with standard histological analysis.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative dual-colour real-time TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) was used.
- Samples of tumor tissue, adjacent mucosa, and normal muscle were collected from 58 patients.
Main Results:
- Telomerase activation was found in 88% of tumor tissues and 34% of adjacent mucosa.
- Activity correlated with tumor grade: 4.6 T.U. (well), 8.3 T.U. (moderate), 20 T.U. (poor).
- No activity was detected in normal muscle; 3 recurrent tumors were telomerase-negative.
Conclusions:
- Telomerase activity serves as an objective parameter inversely related to tumor differentiation.
- Telomerase-negative tumors exhibit a worse prognosis compared to telomerase-positive tumors.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
01:29Replication in Eukaryotes
In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is highly conserved and tightly regulated. Multiple linear chromosomes must be duplicated with high fidelity before cell division, so there are many proteins that fulfill specialized roles in the replication process. Replication occurs in three phases: initiation, elongation, and termination, and ends with two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus.
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
02:31Replication in Eukaryotes
Overview