Comparison of NCL-hTERT antibody reactivity and telomere repeat amplification protocol in situ in effusions.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the performances of 2 methods, telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) in situ and antibodies to the hTERT protein, in assessing telomerase activity.


METHODS
TRAP in situ and immunohistochemistry with a commercial antibody (NCL-hTERT) was performed on 54 body cavity effusions. The results were compared and correlated to diagnosis.


RESULTS
Thirty-four effusions from patients with verified malignant disease contained cytologically malignant cells. Both methods were positive in 33 of the cases, whereas only hTERT was positive in 1 case. Twenty effusions, all containing mesothelial cells, came from patients with benign conditions. In 2 fluids atypical, hyperplastic mesothelial cells were both TRAP in situ and hTERT positive. All remaining 18 fluids were TRAP in situ negative, whereas 12 of 18 were hTERT positive. Thus the results of TRAP in situ and hTERT immunohistochemistry disagreed in 1 of 34 (3%) malignant and 12 of 20 (60%) benign cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivities for malignancy were similar for TRAP in situ and hTERT immunohistochemistry. The specificity of the applied hTERT antibody was significantly lower, due to hTERT reactivity in mesothelial cells.
Zendehrokh
Nooreldin
N
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Rehnberg
Johanna
J
Dejmek
Annika
A
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D018301:Neoplasms, Mesothelial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000097796:Nucleolin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D019098:Telomerase; D000097796:Nucleolin; C509186:TERT protein, human