title: Telomerase activity and prognosis in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme which appears to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Its reactivation is associated with the acquisition of immortalization and malignancy. The present study aims to examine the association between telomerase activity and prognosis in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a PCR-based assay, we retrospectively examined telomerase activity in 45 frozen human breast cancer specimens. Telomerase activity was compared with histopathological and clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telomerase activity was detected in 20 (44%) of 45 cases and was associated with advanced histopathological grade and tumour type (ductal vs. lobular). The association with these histological parameters was statistically significant (chi-squared test P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the overall survival rate (78 vs. 77%) or disease-free survival (73 vs. 69%) at 5 years (Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results indicate that telomerase activity in human breast cancer is not associated with nodal status or disease outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, Smithfield, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mokbel
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Parris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radbourne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghilchik
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Newbold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase