[Telomerase activity of common malignant tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To study the usefulness of detection of telomerase activity in the diagnosis of malignant tumors.


METHODS
Modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) was employed to examine telomerase activity in 283 malignant tumor tissues, 42 adjacent tissues and 61 benign tumor tissues.


RESULTS
Of the 283 malignant tumors and 42 adjacent tissues, telomerase was positive in 264 (93.3%) and 11 (26.1%), respectively. Only 4 of the 62 (6.6%) benign tumors were telomerase positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase activity may be used as tumor marker in the diagnosis of malignant tumors.
Liu
X
X
Department of Medical Genetics, Shandong Medical University, Jinan 250012, China.
Zou
Y
Y
Guo
C
C
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D011379:Prognosis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase