title: Expression of telomere binding proteins in gastric cancer and correlation with clinicopathological parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of telomere repeat binding factor 1 (TRF1), TRF2 and protection of telomeres 1 (POT1) in gastric cancer and their relationships with clinicopathological features and telomerase activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total 36 gastric cancer tissue and paired adjacent normal tissue were analyzed. The mRNA expression of telomere binding proteins TRF1, TRF2 and POT1 were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and telomerase activity was assessed by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol/enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of POT1 was significantly higher in tumor tissue than in adjacent normal tissue (P < 0.001). Levels of TRF2 mRNA were significantly higher in bigger tumors (diameter ≥ 5 cm) than in small tumors (diameter < 5 cm) (P = 0.043). POT1 mRNA transcription levels were higher in tumors with lymph nodes metastases than in those without lymph nodes metastases (P = 0.048). POT1 expression was significantly correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.008). A higher level of expression of POT1 was observed in late-stage tumors (III, IV) than in early stage tumors (I, II). Telomerase activity was significantly higher in gastric cancers than in corresponding normal tissue (P < 0.001). Moreover, POT1 expression was significantly positive correlated with telomerase activity (r = 0.572, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  POT1 was overexpressed in gastric cancer and may be associated with stomach carcinogenesis and gastric cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. gaojinbo@163.com
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jinghui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yaoping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035321:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C440849:POT1 protein, human; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; C504753:TERF2 protein, human; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins; D035321:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2; D019098:Telomerase