Irradiation-induced telomerase activity and gastric cancer risk: a case-control analysis in a Chinese Han population.
BACKGROUND
Telomerase expression is one of the characteristics of gastric cancer (GC) cells and telomerase activity is frequently up-regulated by a variety of mechanisms during GC development. Therefore, we hypothesized that elevated levels of activated telomerase might enhance GC risk due to increased propagation of cells with DNA damage, such as induced by gamma-radiation.


METHODS
To explore this hypothesis, 246 GC cases and 246 matched controls were recruited in our case-control study. TRAP-ELISA was used to assess the levels of telomerase activity at baseline and after gamma-radiation and the gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activity (defined as after gamma-irradiation/baseline) in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs).


RESULTS
Our data showed that there was no significant difference for the baseline telomerase activity between GC cases and controls (10.17 +/- 7.21 vs. 11.02 +/- 8.03, p = 0.168). However, after gamma-radiation treatment, gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activity was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls (1.51 +/- 0.93 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.66, p < 0.001). Using the median value of gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activity in the controls as a cutoff point, we observed that high gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activity was associated with a significantly increased GC risk (adjusted odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.83-3.18). Moreover, a dose response association was noted between gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activity and GC risk. Age, but not sex, smoking and drinking status seem to have a modulating effect on the gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activities in both cases and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, our findings for the first time suggest that the increased gamma-radiation-induced telomerase activity in PBLs might be associated with elevated GC risk. Further confirmation of this association using a prospective study design is warranted.
He
Xianli
X
Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China.
Qiao
Qing
Q
Ge
Naijian
N
Nan
Jing
J
Shen
Shuqun
S
Wang
Zizhong
Z
Yang
Yefa
Y
Bao
Guoqiang
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000097:blood / Q000528:radiation effects*
C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase