Telomerase activity is a prognostic factor for recurrence and survival in rectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to determine whether telomerase activity measured in samples of tumoral tissue, transitional mucosa, and normal mucosa from patients with sporadic colorectal cancer is a prognostic factor for recurrence and overall survival.


METHODS
Telomerase activity was determined by fluorescence-based telomeric repeat amplification in tissue samples from 108 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer. A telomerase index was determined by using the formula log (telomerase activity of cancer tissue - telomerase activity of normal mucosa).


RESULTS
Mean telomerase activity in tumoral tissue was 11.49 (total product generated), in transitional mucosa it was 1.51, and in normal mucosa it was 1.09 (P < 0.001). Telomerase activity and telomerase index were not correlated with clinicopathologic factors. Rectal cancer patients' recurrence-free survival was related to N classification (P = 0.004) and to tumor-node-metastases stage classification (P = 0.023) and telomerase index 0.85 (P = 0.023). Overall survival was associated with N classification (positive/negative) and telomerase index (</=0.85 or >0.85; P = 0.018 and P = 0.011, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of telomerase activity has a diagnostic value in colorectal patients. In rectal cancer, telomerase index is an independent prognostic factor for disease progression. A telomerase index</=0.85 and negative nodes can be used to predict disease progression.
Bautista
Cristina Valls
CV
Department of Medicine, Medical School, Lleida University, Lleida, Spain.
Felis
Carme Piñol
CP
Espinet
Josep M Reñé
JM
García
Juan Buenestado
JB
Salas
Joan Viñas
JV
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D019098:Telomerase