title: Circulating hTERT mRNA as a tumor marker in cholangiocarcinoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in the serum of cholangiocarcinoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum of thirty three cholangiocarcinoma patients, forty one benign biliary tract disease patients and ten healthy volunteers were collected and analyzed for the expression of hTERT mRNA by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We then examined the correlation between values of serum hTERT mRNA and the pathological staging of cholangiocarcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  hTERT mRNA was detected in 28 of 33 (84.85%) of serum obtained from cholangiocarcinoma patients and 9 of 41 (21.9%) of serum obtained from benign biliary tract disease patients. hTERT mRNA was not detected in any serum obtained from healthy volunteers. on the other hand the common tumor marker, CA19-9 was detected in 20 of 33 (60.6%) of serum obtained from cholangiocarcinoma patients and 8 of 41 (19.5%) of serum obtained from benign biliary tract disease patients. However, no correlation was found between the present of serum hTERT mRNA and tumor staging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the detection of circulating hTERT mRNA was identified in almost all cholangiocarcinoma patients. It offers a novel tumor marker, which can be used as a complementary study for diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rajavithi Hospital, Rajavithi Rd, Rajathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. kawin_leelawat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kawin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leelawat
authors.forename: Surang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leelawat
authors.forename: Thawee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ratanachu-Ek
authors.forename: Somboon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trubwongchareon
authors.forename: Jerasak
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wannaprasert
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripongkaruna
authors.forename: Suchart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chantawibul
authors.forename: Panadda
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tepaksorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019098:Telomerase