title: Telomerase RNA expression and DNA ploidy as prognostic markers of prostate carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine whether there was a correlation between telomerase RNA expression and DNA ploidy status with clinicopathological parameters and biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telomerase RNA expression and DNA ploidy were evaluated in imprint smear samples obtained from 112 prostates after radical prostatectomy. The results were correlated with pathological stage, Gleason score and serum PSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive telomerse RNA expression was detected in 67.8% of prostate carcinomas. The multiple linear regression model showed a statistically significance increase in telomerase RNA expression with increased Gleason score (P < 0.0001) and preoperative serum PSA values (P = 0.0125). DNA ploidy status also varied significantly with Gleason score (P < 0.0001) and preoperative serum PSA values (P = 0.0110). Five patients with diploid tumors and negative telomerase RNA expression developed a recurrence. However, recurrence was associated with DNA aneuploidy (P = 0.001) as well as with high telomerase RNA overexpression (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that telomerase RNA expression and DNA ploidy could be additional markers in the field of prognosis of prostate carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, University Hospital, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bantis
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonidi
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavantzas
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsipis
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aggelonidou
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D018450:Disease Progression; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012313:RNA; D019098:Telomerase; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen