The association between telomerase, p53, and clinical staging in colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
A proposed etiology of tumor activation involves p53 mutations while telomerase may serve as a key enzyme for maintenance of tumor cell proliferation.


METHODS
Telomerase activity levels were measured in colorectal adenocarcinomas and corresponding normal tissue using a modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol, and p53 mutations were identified using immunohistochemical staining. Results were compared with staging data using regression analysis.


RESULTS
Telomerase activity was present in 23 of 23 (100%) of the tumors and only 2 (9%) of normal specimens (P <0.0001). The p53 mutations were present in 18 of 23 (78%) of the tumors. No significant correlation between p53 mutations, telomerase activity levels, and staging was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase activity in 100% of the tumors suggests telomerase activation is a universal event in colorectal tumor progression; however, telomerase activity appears to be independent of p53 mutations and clinical staging.
Brown
T
T
Department of General Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98431, USA.
Aldous
W
W
Lance
R
R
Blaser
J
J
Baker
T
T
Williard
W
W
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019098:Telomerase