Telomerase activity and the risk of lung cancer.
Telomerase play a key role in the maintenance of telomere length and chromosome integrity. We have evaluated the association between telomerase activity and the risk of lung cancer in peripheral blood. Telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by a PCR-designed telomeric repeat amplification protocol in 63 lung cancer patients and 190 healthy controls that were matched for age, gender, and smoking status. Telomerase activity was significantly lower in the lung cancer patients than in controls (mean ± standard deviation; 1.32 ± 1.65 vs 2.60 ± 3.09, P < 1 × 10(-4)). When telomerase activity was categorized into quartiles based on telomerase activity in the controls, the risk of lung cancer increased as telomerase activity reduced (P(trend) = 1 × 10(-4)). Moreover, when the subjects were categorized based on the median value of telomerase activity, subjects with low telomerase activity were at a significantly increased risk of lung cancer compared to subjects with high telomerase activity (adjusted odds ratio = 3.05, 95% confidence interval = 1.60-5.82, P = 7 × 10(-4)). These findings suggest that telomerase activity may affect telomere maintenance, thereby contributing to susceptibility to lung cancer.
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Hyo-Sung
HS
Jeon
Jin Eun
JE
Choi
Deuk Kju
DK
Jung
Yi Young
YY
Choi
Hyo Gyoung
HG
Kang
Won-Kee
WK
Lee
Seung Soo
SS
Yoo
Jeong-Ok
JO
Lim
Jae Yong
JY
Park
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D019098:Telomerase / Q000097:blood*
D019098:Telomerase