Detection of telomerase activity in prostate massage samples improves differentiating prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
We performed a case-control study in which we tested the ability of a non-invasive assay to detect telomerase activity and to distinguish between prostatic cancer (Pca) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on samples of epithelial cells obtained after prostatic massage.


METHODS
Telomerase activity was determined by a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. We selected 60 patients with histologically proven Pca (30 cases) or BPH (30 cases). Specimens included in this study were from patients who had no suspicious findings on digital rectal examination for cancer, had clinical evidence of lower urinary tract symptoms, had no sonographic signs of Pca at the transrectal ultrasound evaluation, had total PSA values moderately elevated (2.6-15 ng/ml), and had no evidence of other urological cancers. The whole procedure was conducted in double blind between pathologists and molecular biology operators.


RESULTS
Telomerase activity was detected in 90% of Pca cases and in 13% of BPH cases. The sensitivity (90%) and specificity (76%) of this method were calculated. The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic efficiency were 87%, 90%, and 88% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that telomerase activity detected by TRAP assay on prostate epithelial cells collected by prostate massage can substantially improve the distinction between Pca and BPH conditions. One of the clinical benefits resulting from the use of this new assay would be to refine the biopsy indication and to avoid for several patients without Pca the unnecessary cost and the complications of prostate biopsy.
Vicentini
Carlo
C
Department of Surgery, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
Gravina
Giovanni Luca
GL
Angelucci
Adriano
A
Pascale
Esterina
E
D'Ambrosio
Ettore
E
Muzi
Paola
P
Di Leonardo
Gabriella
G
Fileni
Antonio
A
Tubaro
Andrea
A
Festuccia
Claudio
C
Bologna
Mauro
M
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D019098:Telomerase