title: Telomerase expression in primary neuroblastomas.
abstract: Maintenance of chromosomal telomeres is necessary for continued cell growth, and this is carried out in germline tissues by telomerase. In contrast to most somatic tissues, many tumours have telomerase activity. The RNA component of human telomerase (hTR) was measured by Northern analyses of 150 primary untreated neuroblastomas and compared with clinical stage at diagnosis. hTR expression > 33 (relative to cell line control = 100) was seen in 41% of all tumours and the frequency of hTR > 33 increased with stage of disease. Expression of hTR may be involved in progression of neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles 90027-0700, USA.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lukens
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Matthay
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Seeger
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019098:Telomerase