[Telomerase activity in human gastric and colorectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study telomerase activity in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer.


METHODS
Telomerase activity in tumor samples, including 9 colonic, 20 rectal and 11 gastric carcinomas, was examined by telomeric repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay. Thirty-nine samples from tumor-adjacent tissues were also assayed.


RESULTS
Ninety per cent(36 out of 40 tumor samples) exhibited telomerase activity regardless of tumor stage or differentiation. However, telomerase activity in the tumor-adjacent tissues could be detected only in 1 of 39 specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase may be a good diagnostic biomarker for tumor detection.
Department of Health Toxicology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou.
W
W
Chen
Q
Q
Zhang
D
D
Wan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase