[Telomerase expression in colorectal tubular adenoma determined by immunohistochemical staining].
OBJECTIVE
Telomeres are simple repeat elements located at each chromosome end of eukaryotic cells. The main function of telomeres is to cap the chromosome end and protect it from enzymatic attack. Telomerase that facilitates the synthesis of telomere has been detected in not only cancer but also precancerous lesion. In this study, we compared the telomerase expression between low grade and high grade colorectal tubular adenoma.


METHODS
Among tissues from forty eight patients with colorectal tubular adenoma (23 low grade and 25 high grade colorectal dysplasia), telomerase expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
We classified 48 patients into two groups by the extent of nuclei staining pattern. High telomerase expression was a group which showed staining nucleus pattern above 50% in tubular adenoma. Low telomerase expression was a group which showed staining pattern nucleus below 50%. Twelve in 25 high grade colorectal dysplasia showed high telomerase expression (48%). Only one in 23 low grade colorectal dysplasia showed high telomerase expression (4%). Telomerase expression was much higher in the tissues from the patients with high grade than in those with low grade colorectal dysplasia (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Activation of telomerase may be related to the malignant potential in colorectal epithelial cells. Further studies are needed to define the role of telomerase in colorectal tumorigenesis.
Kim
Ho Dong
HD
Department of Internal Medicine, St. Carollo Hospital, Suncheon, Korea. rapael64@hanmail.net
Oh
Young Sang
YS
Kim
Soo Hyun
SH
Kim
Sang Pil
SP
Shin
Hyun Hak
HH
Park
Ju Yong
JY
Park
Hyeuk
H
Myoung
Bo Hyun
BH
Kim
Do Hyun
DH
Lee
Young Jik
YJ
Kim
Hyung Rag
HR
Jung
Young Do
YD
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019098:Telomerase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D019098:Telomerase