[Detection of telomerase activity in human lung cancer.]

To investigate the role of telomerase activity in the oncogenesis and progression of human lung cancer.

A total of 50 malignant neoplasm's specimens frompatient with lung cancer including 36 surgically resected tissues , 7 fiberobronchoscopically collected tissues or cells , 7 pleural effusion cells and 20 tumor-adjacent tissues and 5 tuberculous tissues or cells were examined for telomerase activity by PCR-based TRAP(telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay.

In the lung cancer group , the positive rate of telomerase activity in surgically resected lung cancer tissues was 91. 7 %(33 out of 36 samples) , and 85. 7 % (6 out of 7 samples) and 71. 4 % (5 out of 7 samples) in fiberobronchoscopically collected tissues or cells and pleural effusion cells , respectively. However , that in the tumor-adjacent tissues was 10 % (2 out of 20 specimens) and no telomerase activity was observed in 5 tuberculous tissues or cells. Positive rate in telomerase activity (85. 7 %) was significantly higher than that in pathologic assay (42. 9 %) in the same 7 samples collected through fiberobronchoscope.

The results suggest that detection of telomerase activity of fiberobronchoscopically collected tissues or cells and pleural effusion cells would be a helpful examination in the diagnosis of patients with lung cancer.