[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.
Zhao
D
D
Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
Zhang
W
W
Jin
S
S
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase