title: [Telomerase activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and in normal esophageal epithelium adjacent to carcinoma].
abstract: Telomerase activity was analyzed in 52 patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Telomerase activity was detected in 41 out of 52 (79%) carcinomas and detected in 46 out of 52 (89%) normal esophageal epitheliums adjacent to the carcinomas. In carcinoma, the telomerase activity was detected more frequently in relatively early stages of carcinoma (in 8 of 9 patients with stage 0, in 3 of 3 patients with stage I, and in 4 of 4 patients with stage II). However, the telomerase activity was detected in only 8 of 12 patients with stage III and in 16 of 21 patients with stage IV. Thus, the percentage of patients who had tumors without telomerase activity increased in more advanced stages. These results indicate that telomerase activity may correlate with carcinogenasis of esophageal cancer, however, it may not correlate with progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery I, Facalty of Medicine, Tottori University.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeguchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaibara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase