[Study of telomerase activity in colorectal carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the telomerase activity in human colorectal carcinoma and tumor-adjacent tissue and to investigate the possibility of telomerase as tumor biological marker.


METHODS
A total of 60 human colorectal tissue specimens, comprising 37 carcinomas, 3 benign lesions and 20 tumor-adjacent tissue specimens were examined for telomerase activity by telomeric repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay.


RESULTS
No telomerase activity in 20 tumor-adjacent tissues and 3 benign lesions was detected. However, of 37 colorectal carcinoma specimens, 35 were positive for telomerase activity with a 94.6% positive rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that telomerase is a tumor specific gene marker, and may play an important role in early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal carcinomas.
Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
D
D
Zhao
W
W
Zhang
S
S
Jin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase