[Telomerase activity in liver cancer and the adjacent tissue].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility of using telomerase as a tumor marker for human primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).


METHODS
Human liver specimens, comprising 33 HCC and adjacent peritumoral tissues, 4 hepatic metastases and the adjacent peritumoral tissues, 6 benign liver lesions and 6 normal liver tissues, were examined for telomerase activity by TRAP assay based on PCR.


RESULTS
Thirty of 33 HCC and 9 of 33 adjacent tissue specimens were positive for telomerase activity with a positive rate of 90.9% and 27.3%, respectively. Four hepatic metastatic cancer and 2 adjacent tissues were positive. Telomerase activity was negative in 6 nomal liver tissues and 5 of 6 benign liver lesions. There was no correlation between the clinical stage of HCC and their telomerase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive telomerase activity occurs in the majority of HCC examined. It can be used as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of HCC.
Fu
J
J
Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
Zhang
W
W
Jin
S
S
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase