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Telomerase activity in human breast tumors
E Hiyama1, L Gollahon, T Kataoka
1Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-9039, USA.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|January 17, 1996
Summary
Telomerase activity is reactivated in most breast cancers, especially advanced stages. This enzyme
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Normal somatic cells lack telomerase activity, leading to telomere erosion with cell division.
- Telomerase maintains telomere length in germline and immortal cells, counteracting the end-replication problem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the reactivation timing of telomerase activity during breast cancer progression.
- To assess if telomerase activity can serve as a diagnostic or therapeutic indicator for breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay to measure telomerase activity.
- Analyzed 140 breast cancer specimens, 4 phyllodes tumors, 38 noncancerous lesions, and 55 adjacent noncancerous tissues.
- Examined 33 fine-needle-aspirated breast samples for telomerase activity.
Main Results:
- Telomerase activity was detected in 93% of 140 surgically resected breast cancers.
- Activity was found in 68% of stage I and over 95% of advanced-stage tumors, but only 4% of adjacent noncancerous tissues.
- Stage classification showed the strongest association with telomerase activity (P = .02).
Conclusions:
- Telomerase activity is prevalent in advanced breast cancers but absent in a significant portion of less advanced cases.
- Further research is needed to determine if absent telomerase activity correlates with a favorable patient outcome.