title: Accuracy of telomerase in estimating breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of telomerase activity in predicting a higher risk for breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative systematic review was performed. Studies that detected telomerase activities in breast tissue were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five primary studies were analyzed, which included 2395 breast lesions. The proportion of breast cancer was 60.8%. Eighty-two percent (1193/1455) of breast cancer cases and 18% (169/940) of benign lesions cases were positive for telomerase activity. For breast cancer vs benign or normal breast tissue, the pooled likelihood ratio for the presence of telomerase activity was 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-6.5) and the post-test probability was 88% (95% CI, 83-91). For breast cancer vs benign or normal tissue, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.89 with the Q* point value of 0.82.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our systematic review showed that telomerase activity was significantly present in breast cancer when compared with normal breast tissue or benign breast lesions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology, University of Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erik P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Winnikow
authors.forename: Lidia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Edelweiss
authors.forename: Daniela D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edelweiss
authors.forename: Priscyla W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Fábio R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Bruno R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase