Amplification of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene in cervical carcinomas.
The expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic component of the telomerase complex, is required for activation of telomerase during immortalization and transformation of human cells. However, the biochemical and genetic mechanisms governing hTERT expression remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined hTERT amplification as a potential genetic event contributing to telomerase activation in cervical carcinomas. An amplification of the hTERT gene was found in 1/4 cervical cancer cell lines and 21/88 primary tumor samples derived from the patients with cervical carcinomas. An increase in the hTERT copy number was significantly correlated with higher levels of hTERT protein expression. Moreover, the hTERT alterations with the enhanced hTERT expression were exclusively observed in those tumors with high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Taken together, the hTERT gene amplification, directly or indirectly targeted by human papillomavirus, may be one of the driving forces responsible for upregulation of hTERT expression and activation of telomerase in cervical cancers.
Zhang
Anju
A
Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Zheng
Chengyun
C
Hou
Mi
M
Lindvall
Charlotta
C
Wallin
Keng-Ling
KL
Angström
Tord
T
Yang
Xiaoyan
X
Hellström
Ann-Cathrin
AC
Blennow
Elisabeth
E
Björkholm
Magnus
M
Zetterberg
Anders
A
Gruber
Astrid
A
Xu
Dawei
D
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019098:Telomerase