title: Telomerase activity and telomere lengths: alterations in renal cell carcinomas.
abstract: Detection of telomerase activity in renal cell carcinomas may be a key to understanding the loss of growth control in tumor cells. This enzyme forms the end of most chromosomal DNAs (that is, telomeres) found in renal tumors. When activated, the telomeres shorten with every cell cycle and then there is a compensatory lengthening of the cells, which then proliferate and eventually become immortal and metastasize. This complex multigenetic process may prove to be a useful marker of tumor progression and patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Department of Urology, University of Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dahse
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Junker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlichter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Claussen
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D017931:DNA Primers; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D019098:Telomerase