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Significant telomere reduction in human superficial transitional cell carcinoma
S Kamata1, Y Kageyama, J Yonese
1Department of Urology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Medicine, Japan.
British Journal of Urology
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) shows reduced telomere length, particularly in superficial tumors. Telomerase is present in tumors but not linked to telomere shortening.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Telomeres are protective caps on chromosomes.
- Telomere length and telomerase activity are implicated in cancer development.
- Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common type of bladder cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine telomere length and telomerase activity in human bladder TCCs.
- To correlate these findings with clinicopathological features of TCC.
Main Methods:
- Southern blot analysis for mean telomere length.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for telomerase activity.
- Analysis of primary tumor tissues and adjacent normal urothelia from 21 patients.
Main Results:
- Mean telomere length was significantly shorter in tumor tissues (6.6 kb) compared to normal urothelia (11.5 kb).
- Superficial TCCs had longer telomeres (8.9 kb) than invasive TCCs (3.4 kb).
- Telomerase activity was detected in all 13 TCC samples but not in controls; activity was unrelated to telomere length reduction.
Conclusions:
- Human TCCs exhibit reduced telomere length, with greater reduction in superficial tumors.
- Telomerase is detectable in bladder tumors but its activity does not correlate with the observed telomere shortening.