Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by cytology and telomerase activity in exfoliated cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during endoscopy.
BACKGROUND
Telomerase activity is reported to be specific and frequent in human pancreatic cancer. We conducted this study to assess the usefulness of monitoring telomerase activity in exfoliated cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Exfoliated cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during ERCP from 21 patients (18 with pancreatic cancer, 3 with chronic pancreatitis) were examined. Telomerase activity was detected by polymerase chain reaction and telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay (PCR-TRAP-ELISA).


RESULTS
D450 values of telomerase activity were 0.446+/-0.2700 in pancreatic cancer and 0.041+/-0.0111 in chronic pancreatitis. 77.8% (14/18) of patients with pancreatic cancer had cells with telomerase activity. None of the samples from patients with chronic pancreatitis showed telomerase activity, when the cutoff value of telomerase activity was set at 2.0. Cytological examination showed cancer cells in 66.7% (12/18) of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase activity may be an early malignant event in pancreatic cancer development. Cytology and telomerase activity in cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing may complement each other for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Zhou
Guo-Xiong
GX
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China. zhouguoxiong@pub.nt.jsinfo.net
Huang
Jie-Fei
JF
Zhang
Hong
H
Chen
Jian-Ping
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D019098:Telomerase