Detection of telomerase activity in gastric lavage fluid: a novel method to detect gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein polymerase that is essential for cell immortality. Recent studies have demonstrated that a high percentage of gastric cancer tissue expressed telomerase. This study describes the presence of telomerase activity in gastric lavage fluid in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
Gastric lavage fluid was collected during esophageogastroduodenoscopy in 70 patients: 25 with gastric cancer, 25 with peptic ulcer disease, and 20 with normal stomach. The fluid and biopsy samples were analyzed for telomerase activity by a polymerase chain reaction-based telomerase repeat amplification protocol. The findings were related to the histological results.


RESULTS
Telomerase activity was present in 24 of the 25 (96%) gastric cancer tissue and in 7 of the 25 tissue specimens from peptic ulcer or gastritis. In the gastric lavage fluid, telomerase was detected in 20 patients (80%) with gastric cancer, 7 patients (28%) with peptic ulcer, and none in normal subjects (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of gastric fluid telomerase expression in gastric cancer patients was 80%, 84%, 74%, and 88%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of telomerase activity is present in gastric lavage fluid of patients with gastric cancer as compared to those without, may represent a novel method for diagnosis of gastric cancer.
Wong
Stephen Ching-ho
SC
National University Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Yu
Hanry
H
So
Jimmy B Y
JB
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019098:Telomerase