title: Frequent high telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gene copy number gain of chromosomal arm 5p is frequently found in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) suggesting the activation of proto-oncogenes. TERT is a candidate gene encoding for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relevance of TERT copy number gain and high hTERT expression in OSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for TERT and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for hTERT were performed to analyze TERT copy numbers and hTERT expression, respectively, on tissue microarray (TMA) sections including n = 247 OSCC and n = 105 pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (PSCC/LSCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased hTERT protein expression was more frequently found in OSCC (71.1%, 155/218) than in PSCC/LSCC (36.0%, 35/89) (P < 0.001). By contrast, specific TERT amplifications were less common in OSCC (2.1%, 4/191) compared with PSCC/LSCC (9.9%, 8/81) (P = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High hTERT expression is a frequent finding in OSCC. It might be a promising target for the development of specific anti-neoplastic therapy approaches.
authors: Klinik für Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. kolja.freier@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors: Kolja
authors: K
authors: Freier
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Pungs
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Flechtenmacher
authors: Franz X
authors: FX
authors: Bosch
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lichter
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Joos
authors: Christof
authors: C
authors: Hofele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase