Telomerase activity as a marker for malignancy in feline tissues.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the diagnostic significance of the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay in detecting feline malignancies.


METHODS
Solid tissue specimens collected from 33 client-owned cats undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures at the University of Illinois Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between July 1997 and September 1999 and an additional 20 tissue samples were collected from 3 clinically normal control cats euthanatized at the conclusion of an unrelated study.


METHODS
The TRAP assay was used for detection of telomerase activity. Each result was compared to its respective histopathologic diagnosis.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine of 31 malignant and 1 of 22 benign or normal tissue samples had telomerase activity, indicating 94% sensitivity and 95% specificity of the TRAP assay in our laboratory.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic significance of telomerase activity has been demonstrated in humans and recently in dogs by our laboratory. We tested feline samples to determine whether similar patterns of telomerase activity exist. On the basis of our results, the TRAP assay may be clinically useful in providing a rapid diagnosis of malignancy in cats. The telomerase enzyme may also serve as a therapeutic target in feline tumors.
Cadile
C D
CD
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802, USA.
Kitchell
B E
BE
Biller
B J
BJ
Hetler
E R
ER
Balkin
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D002415:Cats; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000662:veterinary; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase