title: Telomerase and hTERT: can they serve as markers for gastric cancer diagnosis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (nhGMECs) and fibroblasts (nhGMFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  nhGMECs and nhGMFs were isolated and cultured from specimens obtained during routine surgery for bleeding peptic ulcer. Telomerase activity in nhGMFs, nhGMECs, and the tumor cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells was analyzed using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. hTERT protein was determined in nhGMECs, nhGMFs, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells by indirect immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A similar level of telomerase activity was observed in nhGMECs, nhGMFs and BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-28 cell lines. Positive hTERT immunostaining was detected in nhGMECs, nhGMFs, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of telomerase or hTERT as diagnostic markers for gastric cancer may require further studies.
authors.affiliation: Yong-Bo Cheng, Ping Yao, Gulimire∙Aerken, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Yong-Bo Cheng, Ping Yao, Gulimire∙Aerken, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Yong-Bo Cheng, Ping Yao, Gulimire∙Aerken, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Yong-Bo Cheng, Ping Yao, Gulimire∙Aerken, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Yong-Bo Cheng, Ping Yao, Gulimire∙Aerken, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Gulimire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aerken
authors.affiliation: Yong-Bo Cheng, Ping Yao, Gulimire∙Aerken, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Dian-Chun
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Gastric cancer; Human telomerase reverse transcriptase; Normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cell; Normal human gastric mucosal fibroblast; Telomerase