title: Telomerase activity significantly correlates with cell differentiation, proliferation and lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinomas.
abstract: Telomerase activity was examined by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, in a total of 37 colorectal adenocarcinomas, including stages A, B and C according to the Astler and Collier classification, and correlated with clinicopathological features. Of 17 stage C lesions, 13 were positive (76.5%; P<0.01), demonstrating a significant correlation with lymph node metastasis. In contrast, only 6 of 20 stage A and B carcinomas were positive (30.0%), this being significantly lower (P < 0.05). Moderately or poorly differentiated subtypes were more predominant in the telomerase-positive than in the telomerase-negative groups (P< 0.05) with greater elevation of mitotic and Ki-67 labeling indices (P < 0.0001). No significant relation was found between telomerase activity and p53 protein accumulation or Bcl-2 protein expression. The good correlation with tumor staging, lymph node metastasis, differentiation, and mitotic and Ki-67 labeling indices suggests that this parameter might have potential application in estimation of prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okayasu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitomi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshimura
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D019098:Telomerase