Lack of telomerase in desmoids occurring sporadically and in association with familial adenomatous polyposis.
BACKGROUND
Telomerase activity may be required for unlimited growth of cells and is repressed in most somatic tissues, but is detectable in immortal cell lines, germ cells, many malignancies and some benign lesions. Desmoids are proliferative, locally invasive, non-metastasizing fibromatous tumours which rarely regress. They occur frequently in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), causing significant morbidity and death. Telomerase activity was assayed in desmoids from patients with and without FAP to assess the role of telomerase in the development of these lesions, and its potential as a prognostic marker and possible target for treatment.


METHODS
Protein extracts from 11 desmoids from nine patients with FAP, and ten desmoids from ten patients without FAP, were analysed for telomerase activity by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol, a sensitive polymerase chain reaction-based assay. Six fibrosarcomas and a fibrosarcoma cell line were used as positive controls; all displayed telomerase activity.


RESULTS
No telomerase activity was detected in any of the 21 desmoids studied.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that desmoid tumours are one of the intriguing exceptions to the emerging view that re-expression of telomerase activity accompanies the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic tissues, and suggest that alternative mechanisms may operate in these proliferative neoplasms.
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, Harrow, UK.
D K
DK
Scates
S K
SK
Clark
R K
RK
Phillips
S
S
Venitt
D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019098:Telomerase