Telomerase activity as a biological marker in some gynecological tumors: comparison with tissue and serum CA 125.
BACKGROUND
Since telomerase activity is detectable in cancer cells but not in some normal somatic cells, it has been considered as a potential diagnostic marker as well as a target for possible anticancer strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of telomerase activity determination in some gynecological tumors and to compare it with the CA 125 tissue and serum profile.


METHODS
The telomerase activity was determined in 11 gynecological tumors: 7 ovarian carcinomas, 2 carcinomas of the fallopian tube and 2 cervical carcinomas, and compared to the activity in the normal peritoneal tissue of the same patients. Additionally, the levels of CA 125 were measured in the tumor and normal peritoneum tissue samples as well as in the patients' sera.


RESULTS
In ovarian tumors, the telomerase activity was detected in 71.4% (5 out of 7), while in the carcinomas of the fallopian tube and cervical carcinomas such activity was not observed. Negative for telomerase activity were also all samples of peritoneum. The range of CA 125 in the tumor tissue was 99 U/g-803667 U/g of tissue and in the normal peritoneum 71 U/g-4925 U/g of tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, telomerase activity could be detected in some of the gynecological tumors, but for clinical use as a diagnostic marker it is inferior to CA 125.
Novakovic
S
S
Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Oncology, Zaloska 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. snovakovic@onko-i.si
Fras
P A
PA
Jezersek-Novakovic
B
B
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D019098:Telomerase