[Detection of telomerase activity in salivary tumor and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate telomerase activity in human salivary cancer and corresponding adjacent tissues and to explore the possibility of telomerase as a tumor marker and its clinical significance.


METHODS
Twenty-eight salivary cancers, 28 adjacent peritumoral tissues, 10 mixed tumors, 6 adenolymphomas, and 5 normal salivary tissues were examined for telomerase activity by the silver-staining TRAP assay based on PCR.


RESULTS
Twenty-five of the 28 salivary cancers and 2 of the 28 adjacent peritumoral tissue specimens were positive for telomerase activity with a positive rate of 89.3% and 6.3%, respectively. Telomerase activity was negative in the 10 mixed tumors, 6 adenolymphomas, and 5 normal salivary tissues. There was no correlation between the clinical stage of salivary cancer and its expression of telomerase activity (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Positive telomerase activity occurs in the majority of salivary cancers examined. It can be used as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of salivary cancer. Detection of telomerase activity in the adjacent peritumoral tissues can be used as a monitoring marker after treatment.
Chen
Liang-jian
LJ
Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Huang
Jian-hua
JH
Li
Zan
Z
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000201:enzymology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase