[Expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase and its relationship with expression of c-myc in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and c-myc and their relationship with clinicopathological parameter in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).


METHODS
The expression of hTERT protein and c-myc protein in 39 LSCC specimens and 10 vocal cord polyp specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the expression of hTERT protein and c-myc protein and their relationship with clinicopathological parameter were analyzed.


RESULTS
The positive rate of hTERT protein and c-myc protein expression in 39 LSCC was 84.6% (33/39) and 82.1% (32/39), respectively. The positive rate of hTERT protein and c-myc protein expression in 10 vocal cord polyps was 0 (0/10) and 10.0% (1/10) respectively. Statistical tests showed that hTERT and c-myc protein expression was significantly higher in LSCC than that in vocal cord polyps. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that the expression of c-myc protein was great significantly related to that of hTERT protein (correlation coefficient r = 0.541, P < 0.01). No statistically association was observed among the frequency of hTERT expression and TNM stages, degree of differentiation or lymph nodes metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
The activation of hTERT may be a key step in the pathogenesis of LSCC and the expression of hTERT was associated significantly with that of c-myc gene. C-myc is probably an important control factor in the activation and regulation of hTERT expression.
Chen
Zhiling
Z
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hangzhou Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital, Hangzhou 310007, China. chenzl1202@hotmail.com
Wu
Zhenghu
Z
Guo
Xing
X
Wu
Zuliang
Z
Jiang
Manger
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D019098:Telomerase