[Detection of telomerase activity level in human non-small-cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the telomerase activity in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to investigate the possibility of telomerase as a tumor biological marker.


METHODS
The semi-quantitative assay and expression of PCR-based telomeric repeats amplification Protocol ELISA (TRAP-PCR-ELISA) and PAGE (TRAP-PCR-PAGE) were detected in 15 NSCLC tissues and 15 tumor-adjacent tissues, 3 normal lung tissues.


RESULTS
No telomerase activity in 15 tumor-adjacent tissues and 3 normal lung tissues was detected, However, of 15 NSCLC tissues, 13 were positive for telomerase activity with a 86.7% positive rate, telomerase activity was significantly higher in NSCLC than in Tumor-adjacent tissues and normal lung tissues (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that telomerase is a tumor specific gene marker.
Yang
H Z
HZ
Department of Respiratory Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central Suth University, Changsha 410008, China.
Hu
C P
CP
Su
X L
XL
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase