Telomerase Expression in a Series of Melanocytic Neoplasms

Telomerase is an enzyme involved in maintaining the length of telomeres and cell senescence. Numerous studies have shown that in more than 90% of malignant tumors telomerase activity is detected.

Retrospective observational study in a series of 85 cases of primary melanomas, 12 metastatic melanomas, and 22 melanocytic nevi. We used the monoclonal antibody hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase, Rockland) to assess telomerase activity. The SPSS software package was used to analyze data.

Telomerase expression was present in all the melanocytic neoplasms analyzed. Expression was heterogenous and moderate or high in the melanomas. In contrast, expression was homogeneous and lower in the nevi. Heterogeneous expression was associated with rapid melanoma growth (P=.028), a Breslow thickness of more than 4 mm (P=.004), mitosis (P=.032), and mutations in the TERT gene (P=.002). Activity was less intense in intradermal nevi, and more intense in compound and dysplastic nevi (P=.054).

Telomerase expression is found in all melanocytic neoplasms but is higher in melanomas than in nevi. A heterogeneous pattern of expression in melanomas is associated with more aggressive tumors.