htert expression correlates with MYC over-expression in human prostate cancer.
Expression of the telomerase catalytic sub-unit (htert) constitutes a key step in the development of human cancer. Although htert regulation is still unclear, several studies suggest that c-myc may activate its expression. Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies among men in Western countries. Since de-regulated expression of myc as well as telomerase activation may contribute to the pathogenicity of this cancer, we investigated this pathway in prostate tumorigenesis. For this purpose, myc- and htert-mRNA expression was quantified in 33 sporadic prostate tumors using a real-time quantitative PCR assay based on TaqMan methodology. myc over-expression was observed in 19 (58%) of 33 tumors, whereas telomerase status evaluated by htert expression was observed in 22 (67%). There was no correlation between myc over-expression or htert expression level and tumor stage or Gleason grade. A significant association (p = 0.0024) was found between myc over-expression and elevated htert expression, indicating that the up-regulation of telomerase activity often observed in prostate tumors might be conferred through transactivation of htert by myc. It is likely that the ability of c-myc protein to stimulate expression of htert and thereby enhance telomerase activity represents an important step in prostate tumorigenesis.
Latil
A
A
Laboratoire d'Oncogénétique, Centre René Huguenin, St-Cloud, France.
Vidaud
D
D
Valéri
A
A
Fournier
G
G
Vidaud
M
M
Lidereau
R
R
Cussenot
O
O
Biàche
I
I
D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000601:surgery; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; C422952:telomerase RNA; D012313:RNA; D019098:Telomerase