Detection of telomerase activity in human prostate: a diagnostic marker for prostatic cancer?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of telomerase activity as a marker for the development of prostate cancer in men with existing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a known risk factor for prostatic carcinoma.


METHODS
Telomerase activity was assayed, using a highly sensitive polymerase-chain reaction-based assay, in nine biopsies from patients with prostatic cancer, 16 from patients clinically diagnosed with BPH and 11 from patients with no evidence of prostatic disease.


RESULTS
Telomerase activity was detectable in eight of the nine prostate cancer biopsies, in none of the normal prostates and in six of the 16 BPH biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of telomerase activity in six of 16 biopsies from patients with BPH could indicate early prostate cancer and suggests that telomerase activity may be of use as a biomarker in patients diagnosed with BPH and who may subsequently develop prostate cancer.
Scates
D K
DK
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, Sutton, UK.
Muir
G H
GH
Venitt
S
S
Carmichael
P L
PL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase