Liang-jian Chen1, Jian-hua Huang, Zan Li. 1. Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate telomerase activity in human salivary cancer and corresponding adjacent tissues and to explore the possibility of telomerase as a tumor marker and its clinical significance. METHODS: Twenty-eight salivary cancers, 28 adjacent peritumoral tissues, 10 mixed tumors, 6 adenolymphomas, and 5 normal salivary tissues were examined for telomerase activity by the silver-staining TRAP assay based on PCR. RESULTS: Twenty-five of the 28 salivary cancers and 2 of the 28 adjacent peritumoral tissue specimens were positive for telomerase activity with a positive rate of 89.3% and 6.3%, respectively. Telomerase activity was negative in the 10 mixed tumors, 6 adenolymphomas, and 5 normal salivary tissues. There was no correlation between the clinical stage of salivary cancer and its expression of telomerase activity (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Positive telomerase activity occurs in the majority of salivary cancers examined. It can be used as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of salivary cancer. Detection of telomerase activity in the adjacent peritumoral tissues can be used as a monitoring marker after treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate telomerase activity in humansalivary cancer and corresponding adjacent tissues and to explore the possibility of telomerase as a tumor marker and its clinical significance. METHODS: Twenty-eight salivary cancers, 28 adjacent peritumoral tissues, 10 mixed tumors, 6 adenolymphomas, and 5 normal salivary tissues were examined for telomerase activity by the silver-staining TRAP assay based on PCR. RESULTS: Twenty-five of the 28 salivary cancers and 2 of the 28 adjacent peritumoral tissue specimens were positive for telomerase activity with a positive rate of 89.3% and 6.3%, respectively. Telomerase activity was negative in the 10 mixed tumors, 6 adenolymphomas, and 5 normal salivary tissues. There was no correlation between the clinical stage of salivary cancer and its expression of telomerase activity (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Positive telomerase activity occurs in the majority of salivary cancers examined. It can be used as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of salivary cancer. Detection of telomerase activity in the adjacent peritumoral tissues can be used as a monitoring marker after treatment.