Telomerase activity of the Lugol-stained and -unstained squamous epithelia in the process of oesophageal carcinogenesis.
Up-regulation of telomerase has been reported in many cancers. Our aim was to characterize telomerase activity in various states of the oesophagus to facilitate better understanding of carcinogenesis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. During endoscopic examinations, we obtained 45 Lugol-stained normal epithelia, 31 Lugol-unstained epithelia (14 oesophagitis, 7 mild dysplasia, 5 severe dysplasia and 5 intramucosal cancer) and 9 advanced cancer. Telomerase activity was semi-quantified by a telomeric repeat amplification protocol using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. In the Lugol-stained normal epithelia, telomerase activity increased in proportion to the increase of severity of the accompanying lesions, with a rank order of advanced cancer, intramucosal cancer, mild dysplasia and oesophagitis. In the Lugol-unstained lesions and advanced cancer, telomerase activity was highest in advanced cancer. Up-regulation of telomerase in normal squamous epithelium may be a marker of progression of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Inai
M
M
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Kano
M
M
Shimada
Y
Y
Sakurai
T
T
Chiba
T
T
Imamura
M
M
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004724:Endoscopy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007454:Iodides; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D004396:Coloring Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007454:Iodides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019098:Telomerase; C010389:Lugol's solution