Telomerase activity and Nm23-H2 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Telomerase activity is up-regulated in most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Nm23-H2 has been shown to promote the expression of the c-myc gene, a candidate transcriptional activator of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene. Therefore, this study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between nm23-H2 expression and telomerase activity in HCCs.


METHODS
Telomerase activity and nm23-H2 protein expression in 24 HCCs were analyzed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and immunohistochemistry, respectively.


RESULTS
The incidence of positive telomerase activity was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues (18 out of 24 vs. 7 out of 24, p = 0.0015), and nm23 -H2 protein was more abundantly expressed in tumors than in corresponding normal liver tissues. Tumor nm23-H2 immunoreactivity was associated positively with tumor telomerase activity (p = 0.0037).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that tumor nm23-H2 expression might be associated positively with telomerase activity in HCC and suggest the value of tumor nm23-H2 linked to telomerase activity as a therapeutic target for HCC.
Iizuka
Norio
N
Department of Bioregulatory Function, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. iizuka@po.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.ip
Mori
Naohide
N
Tamesa
Takuo
T
Tangoku
Akira
A
Oka
Masaaki
M
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D014157:Transcription Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D019098:Telomerase; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins