title: Alteration of telomeric repeat length in hepatocellular carcinoma is independent of telomerase activity.
abstract: Length of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) was examined in 34 samples from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. TRF length alterations (reduction or elongation) were found in 18 of 34 (53%) HCC nodules (13 cases reduced, 5 cases elongated). The incidence of TRF alteration was significantly higher in HCC exceeding 3 cm in diameter, moderately- or poorly-differentiated in histology, or with microscopic aggressive lesions (P<0.05). The survival rates were significantly higher in patients without alterations in TRFs (P<0.05). Specifically, all 5 cases with elongated TRFs recurred within 1 year after resection and had a poor prognosis. In contrast, the presence of telomerase activity was not associated with alterations in TRF length. The incidence of TRF length alterations increased with HCC tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: HIROSHIMA UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT CELL & MOL BIOL,MINAMI KU,HIROSHIMA 734,JAPAN. HIROSHIMA UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT SURG 2,MINAMI KU,HIROSHIMA 734,JAPAN.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakashio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tahara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asahara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kajiyama