title: [Telomerase and gastrointestinal cancer].
abstract: Activation of telomerase and stabilisation of telomeres are considered to be essential for the immortality of cancer cells. Telomerase activity is present in almost all carcinomas. It indicates that the detection of telomerase activity in tissues using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) is useful for cancer diagnosis. This review will describe the current state of knowledge of telomerase as it relates to gastrointestinal malignancies focussing primarily on published measurements of this enzymes activity in benign and malignant neoplasms of stomach, colon, pancreas and liver. Telomerase seems to be promising diagnostic and prognostic marker of gastrointestinal tumors which can be useful especially in early detection and even screening. Continuing research will determine its potential value in the control of cancer.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Długosz
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ciechanowicz
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase