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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein
Published on: June 12, 2018
[A preliminary study on telomerase activity in lung cancer patients' bronchoscopically biopsied specimens.]
1Medical Department , Peking Union Medical College Hospital , CAMS and PUMC , Beijing 100730 , P. R. China.
Background:
To detect the levels of telomerase activity in lung cancer tissues and explore the value of telomerase activity analysis in specimens obtained by bronchoscopic biopsy in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
Methods:
Extracts of cells in surgically resected specimens and bronchoscopically biopsied specimens were analyzed for telomerase activity by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. The results of TRAP assays were compared with those of pathological examination..
Results:
Telomerase activity was positive in surgically resected specimens from 10 of 10 lung cancer tissues and from 0 of 10 normal lung tissues. Telomerase activity was positive in bronchoscopically biopsied specimens from 8 of 11 lung cancer tissues , from 1 of 3 benign lung disease tissues , and from 3 of 12 normal bronchial mucosas.
Conclusions:
Lung cancer tissues have detectable telomerase activity. Detection of telomerase activity in bronchoscopic biopsied specimens may be helpful in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
